Covid-19: Over 140 passengers arrive in UAE from India

Covid-19: Over 140 passengers arrive in UAE from India

Over 140 passengers flew on a charter flight from India to the UAE on Monday morning, a top Indian official has told Khaleej Times. ACK Nair, director of the Cochin International Airport (Cial), told Khaleej Times that the flight took off from Cochin after attaining "special approval" from the UAE authorities through its "air bubble agreement" that allows to transport passengers between the two countries. Confirming the news to Khaleej Times over the phone, Nair said: " All the passengers who travelled from Cohin were Indian expats with valid UAE residence visas, and had taken their Covid19 PCR tests within 48 hours from the date of departure. The passengers then also underwent a mandatory rapid PCR test at the Cochin International Airport four hours before they boarded the flight to Abu Dhabi." Nair reiterated that it was not a scheduled flight but a charted one operated by Etihad. Khaleej Times has reached out to Etihad for a confirmation. "The UAE authorities are allowing Indian expatriates with valid residence visa and those who have received both the doses of UAE-approved Covid vaccines (to fly back). "There are a total of four mandatory rules that passengers had to comply with in order