Press release

Fifth round of charter flights from India announced

The UK has announced seven further charter flights to bring over 2,000 stranded British travellers home from India.

From:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon
Published
30 April 2020
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Once these flights are completed, over 15,000 British travellers will have been brought back from India on 59 flights chartered by the Government.

Details of the flights are:

  • Amritsar to London Heathrow on 5 May, 6 May, 7 May, 8 May, 9 May, 10 May, 11 May

Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon said:

Our charter programme has already helped more than 10,000 British travellers return home from India by ensuring flights to the UK have run every day since 8 April, with thousands more due to depart in the coming days.

These additional flights will help over 2,000 more people get back to their loved ones here in the UK. I would like to thank the Government of India for their help in making it happen.

Jan Thompson, Acting High Commissioner to India, said:

This fifth round of flights brings the total number of planes we have organised from India to 59. There have been daily departures from across the country for weeks, which have helped thousands of people get back to their friends and families in the UK.

My team and I will continue to do all we can to support British people who remain in India.

As with the last round of flights, seats on the planes will be allocated to those who have already registered via the government’s online booking portal - CTM.

Staff at the British High Commission in India will continue to provide assistance to those waiting to return to the UK.

Since the coronavirus outbreak began, the UK has worked consistently with governments, air carriers and travel companies to minimise disruption and help British travellers return home safely – supported with £75 million for special charter flights to priority countries like India, focused on helping the most vulnerable people.

Background information

  • those who are eligible to fly will be sent information on how to get to airports and flight itineraries directly when their seat is confirmed
  • details regarding flights and luggage allowance are available on the India Travel Advice page
  • the UK Government has previously announced 52 charter flights bringing back over 13,000 people from India. Today’s announcement brings that total to 59 flights, catering for 15,000 people. To date, over 10,000 of those people have travelled, with the remaining amount due in coming weeks
  • the British High Commission continues to provide consular support to any British nationals who remain in India. Consular helpline numbers: New Delhi: +91 (11) 2419 2100; Chennai: +91 (44) 42192151; Mumbai/Goa: +91 (22) 6650 2222

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Published 30 April 2020