UK-bound Indians can transit via Amsterdam without Schengen visa, says KLM – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Dutch carrier KLM has said UK-bound passengers transiting on its flights via Amsterdam do not require a Schengen visa to do so. However, it said this is true only for KLM and not for its partner airline Air France.
“Indian nationals destined to the United Kingdom, do not require a transit/Schengen visa while transiting Amsterdam Schiphol, provided they hold a valid visa for the United Kingdom and comply with all applicable conditions in transit and entry conditions at destination. Passengers are personally responsible to ascertain eligibility.
For general overview of travel conditions refer to klm.traveldoc.aero ,” KLM said in a statement while adding this “applies to KLM only” (and not Air France).
Post Brexit, the EU has decided that non-EU citizens must have a transit Schengen visa to fly to the UK on transit flights of many of its member carriers. Swiss of Switzerland, which is not a part of the EU, is exempt from this requirement.
Indians supposed to travel to the UK on many European Union (EU) carriers like Lufthansa and Air France by transiting via these airlines’ hubs at Frankfurt/Munich and Paris, respectively, have been denied boarding at the origin in India if they do not have a transit/regular Schengen visa. The reason: Post Brexit, the EU has decided to “punish” the UK by insisting non-EU citizens must have a transit Schengen visa to fly to the UK on transit flights of its carriers, say top airline officials.
Interestingly, Switzerland — which is not a part of the EU — is spared this rule for its airline Swiss. People going from India to the UK on one-stop flights can do so via places like the Gulf and Switzerland without requiring a transit visa for these places. The other option remains nonstops of Air India, Vistara, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. The change, say airline officials, took place in the middle of the pandemic from January 1, 2021.

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