Goa-London flight takes off with over 200 passengers

Panaji: The Centre granted some leeway for flights to the UK, permitting one Goa-London flight to depart on Monday morning from Dabolim airport with 217 passengers. The flight, operated by Air India, is the first flight this year to the UK under the air bubble agreement ever since the suspension of flights between the two nations due to the emergence of a new, highly infectious Covid-19 strain.

Goa airport director Gagan Malik said that the flight was a one-off case with flights between Goa and London remaining grounded till the end of January. The Centre continued to restrict the arrival of passengers from the UK and has permitted flights between India and UK to operate only from five metro destinations.

“The relief flight, the 94th so far, left from Goa international airport today early in the morning to the UK with 210 passengers and seven children under the Air Bubble agreement. No passengers came on the flight as only departure was permitted,” said Malik. “We assisted the passengers and ensured all health protocols were followed.”

Air India flight AI 1193 to London’s Heathrow airport departed at 2:29am and the aircraft, a Boeing 787 – Dreamliner, will return with passengers from London to Delhi Indira Gandhi International airport.