Indians stranded by Covid-19 return to United Arab Emirates by private jet
3.5 million Indians live in the United Arab Emirates.
Here, an Indian national arriving from Dubai at Guru Ram Dass Airport, India on May 13, 2020 (Image illustration).
AFP - NARINDER NANU
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In India, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc.
The direct consequence is that commercial flights from the subcontinent have been suspended in many countries, including the United Arab Emirates where around 3.5 million Indians live.
Many Indians, stranded in their country of origin, therefore try to reach their country of residence by other means.
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With our correspondent in Dubai
,
Nicolas Keraudren
This entry ban for travelers from India has been extended indefinitely to the United Arab Emirates.
Ahmed Shajeer is overwhelmed with booking requests.
This Indian citizen is the commercial director of a private jet supplier based in Dubai.
These planes benefit from an exemption to land in the Emirates from India.
“
All of our flights are full.
The pace is very sustained.
We have between 3 and 4 flights minimum every day from the many cities where we operate in India,
”he notes.
Tickets between 4,000 and 6,000 €
The cost of this tailor-made service is approximately 35 times higher than that of a regular commercial flight between the two countries.
“
It's a really very high amount and difficult for them to afford.
Tickets are between
4,000 and
6,000 euros per passenger,
”he said.
Demand is not weakening, however.
For some Indian nationals stranded in their country of origin, returning to the Emirates is a necessity. “
Our clients are mainly Emirati residents who are afraid of losing their jobs if they remain stranded in India.
Or maybe their family members are still there and they want to bring them back.
They are the ones who suffer the most from this situation,
”he explains.
Last week, however, the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority tightened its conditions for issuing landing permits.
Only eight passengers are now allowed to board these private planes.
Ahmed Shajeer therefore plans to organize more flights to meet demand.
►Also read: Covid-19: the Australian government prohibits its nationals stranded in India from returning
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