New Delhi: United Arab Emirates based Indian businessman SP Singh Oberoi was pleasantly surprised to find the entire plane with him when he boarded. Air IndiaAmritsar to Dubai flight with economy class ticket in hand.
Oberoi, who holds the Golden Visa, which allows a longer residency of 10 years United Arab EmiratesAn official said the only passenger who took off from Amritsar at around 3.45 a.m. on Wednesday was the national carrier’s three-hour flight to Dubai.
During the flight, he took photographs with the crew members and flew the plane several times without any hindrance.
Air India did not respond to PTI’s request for a statement on the matter.
This was the third time in the last five weeks that a flight to Dubai had just one passenger.
On May 19, a 40-year-old man named Bhavesh Zaveri was the lone passenger on Emirates’ Mumbai-Dubai flight. Three days later, another man named Oswald Rodrigues was the lone passenger on an Air India Mumbai-Dubai flight.
Flights on India-Dubai routes were one of the most attractive for carriers in pre-pandemic times due to the high demand. However, since the start of the pandemic, traffic on the India-Dubai routes has taken a major hit.
India and its aviation sector were particularly hit during April and May this year due to the second wave of the pandemic, which is currently receding.
India suspended its scheduled international flights on March 23, 2020, when the first wave hit the country. However, special international flights are operating under Vande Bharat Mission From May 2020 and under air bubble agreement with around 27 countries from July 2020.
Flights between India and the United Arab Emirates are also operating under the air bubble arrangement. Under this, limited flights can be operated between the two countries with restrictions.
Oberoi, who holds the Golden Visa, which allows a longer residency of 10 years United Arab EmiratesAn official said the only passenger who took off from Amritsar at around 3.45 a.m. on Wednesday was the national carrier’s three-hour flight to Dubai.
During the flight, he took photographs with the crew members and flew the plane several times without any hindrance.
Air India did not respond to PTI’s request for a statement on the matter.
This was the third time in the last five weeks that a flight to Dubai had just one passenger.
On May 19, a 40-year-old man named Bhavesh Zaveri was the lone passenger on Emirates’ Mumbai-Dubai flight. Three days later, another man named Oswald Rodrigues was the lone passenger on an Air India Mumbai-Dubai flight.
Flights on India-Dubai routes were one of the most attractive for carriers in pre-pandemic times due to the high demand. However, since the start of the pandemic, traffic on the India-Dubai routes has taken a major hit.
India and its aviation sector were particularly hit during April and May this year due to the second wave of the pandemic, which is currently receding.
India suspended its scheduled international flights on March 23, 2020, when the first wave hit the country. However, special international flights are operating under Vande Bharat Mission From May 2020 and under air bubble agreement with around 27 countries from July 2020.
Flights between India and the United Arab Emirates are also operating under the air bubble arrangement. Under this, limited flights can be operated between the two countries with restrictions.
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