Amid lockdown Air India to operate 18 flights for citizens of Germany, Canada, France, Ireland stranded in India

The airline said that the initiative has been taken on the request of concerned embassies.

Issuing a statement, Air India said that it has entered into commercial contracts with various countries to run charter flights for their citizens.

"Air India is receiving various requests for ferrying nationals to their respective countries. As Air India has wide body aircraft and experience of flying to major international destinations, few charter flights are being operated," the Air India statement said.

"These operations follow strict laid down safety protocols for all involved in flight handling, cockpit and cabin crew, ground personnel and the passengers," it said.

Air India CMD Rajiv Bansal said the airlines will operate 18 flights for citizens of Germany, Canada, France, Ireland stranded in India on the request of concerned embassies.

"Air India has entered into commercial contracts with these countries to run charter flights for their citizens. Flights to return to India empty," he added.

He also informed that the airline is providing all the essentials stuffs to passengers including sanitisers, gloves as well as personal protective equipment to the cockpit crew, cabin crew and the ground staff.

The cabin crew have been asked to stay quarantined after every flight.

In the view of in view of the 21-day nationwide lockdown, Air India is currently not operating any passenger flight from international destinations into India till 14th April 2020.