This is the 6th such arrangement in the SAARC region and 28th in total for India

India has entered an air bubble agreement with Sri Lanka, enabling all eligible passengers to travel between the two countries in the near future.

The finalization of the air bubble agreement with Sri Lanka is the 6th such arrangement in SAARC region and 28th in total for India, according to a tweet of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India.

“India has finalized an air bubble agreement with Sri Lanka, making it the 6th such arrangement in SAARC region & the 28th in total. All the eligible passengers will be able to travel between the 2 countries in the near future. Travel safe,” MoCA tweeted on Saturday.

“Transport Bubbles” or “Air Bridges” are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They are reciprocal in nature, meaning airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits.

India currently has bilateral air bubble agreements with 27 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Russia, Seychelles, Tanzania, the UAE, the UK, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and the US.

Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, all regular international commercial flight operations remain suspended. The MoCA recently extended the ban on international commercial flights till 30 April.

However, dedicated cargo flights and flights under the bilateral air bubble pacts with select countries continue to operate.