Those who have been worried about their future plans to travel to Europe will have to wait for the resumption of international flights despite 10 countries of European Union having accepted Covishield as proof of immunity for entering in these countries. Germany is the only country which is under bilateral air bubble arrangement with India but it has not lifted the travel ban for people coming from India. Those who want to travel to these nine countries which accepted Covisheild, will still need to check country-specific guidelines before making travel plans.
Officials said the scheduled international flights have been banned and flights under bilateral "air bubble" arrangements with selected countries are allowed. Except Germany, there are no bilateral air bubble arrangements with these 10 countries of European Unions which have granted Covisheild as proof of immunity or a certificate of Covid vaccinations for allowing entering in these countries.
According to the ministry of civil aviation, India has no bilateral air bubble agreements with Austria, Estonia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland. "No doubts, the EU's permission to grant Covidsheild as proof of immunity has brought a sigh of big relief for those who are planning to go to Europe," officials added. While
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday tweeted 'Vande Bharat Mission has been a mission of Hope & relief to more than 92.6 lakh people'.
Currently, international travel in India is taking place only under the established air travel bubbles with 27 countries under certain guidelines.
Air bubbles or travel corridors are systems established between two countries that perceive each other to be safe and allow carriers of both the countries to fly passengers either way without any restrictions.
Such an arrangement will also allow the members of the group to rekindle trade ties with each other, and kickstart sectors such as travel and tourism. The countries Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Ukraine, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan.
At least 10 European countries reportedly recognised the Covishield vaccine which is produced by the Serum Institute of India and is the most-used brand in the country.