WHAT ARE CURRENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO CANADIAN CITIZENS WISHING TO LEAVE INDIA?
There are no Canadian-government coordinated relief flights available for booking at this time. However, there are other options for Canadian citizens to depart India. A number of relief flights continue to be run by various international carriers, including KLM, Air France, Lufthansa and Air India. Canadians are advised to check the status of all flights directly with the airlines as they can change on short notice.
Note that relief flights are typically announced with only 7 days notice, depending on Government of India authorities. Flights available for booking on a later date beyond one week are likely not relief flights and could be cancelled if regular commercial airspace does not reopen by then. In most cases, previously purchased tickets or credit with these airlines cannot be used for new bookings on relief flights.
To make a booking on one of these relief flights, please check the following web sites regularly for any last-minute tickets that may become available. Contact details for customer care centres are also listed below for those airlines offering seat bookings by phone.
• AIR INDIA -
www.airindia.in
• KLM -
www.klm.co.in or contact the customer contact centres at:
Toll Free 1 800 4193 044 or +91 (0) 124 623 3503 between 0900 hrs – 1700 hrs
• AIR FRANCE -
www.airfrance.in or contact the customer contact centres at:
Toll Free 1800 4192 033 or +91 (0) 124 623 3502 between 0900 hrs – 1700 hrs
• LUFTHANSA -
www.lufthansa.com
WHO IS ALLOWED TO TRAVEL ON RELIEF FLIGHTS?
The Government of India provides special flight authorities for these relief flights, which specify who is eligible to travel for each flight. Note that eligibility could change at any time. Passengers who purchase tickets, but do not meet eligibility criteria, will be denied boarding at the airport.
Each airline lists the passenger eligibility rules on their web site at the links below.
AIR INDIA -
http://www.airindia.in/images/pdf/Revised-Mauritius-advisory-19th-June-2020.pdf
KLM -
https://www.klm.com/travel/in_en/campaigns/travelrestrictions.htm
AIR FRANCE -
https://www.airfrance.in/IN/en/common/page_flottante/hp/news-air-traffic-air-france.htm?_ga=2.72783891.1856854412.1592814581-926120686.1589605629
LUFTHANSA -
https://www.lufthansa.com/in/en/flight-information
Please note these flights are not run under the auspices of the High Commission of Canada. Boarding rules, eligibility requirements, costs, flight schedules and other details are all subject to the airline and local authorities - not the Government of Canada. The High Commission has done its utmost requesting greater flexibility in the eligibility rules. Passengers do not require an authorization letter from the High Commission to take any relief flights.
RULES FOR FLYING THROUGH A THIRD COUNTRY
If the flight you are booking has a stopover in another country, you are also responsible for verifying your eligibility to transit that country. Note that due to global COVID-19 restrictions, many countries have imposed *new* rules and requirements for passengers arriving on relief flights or transiting. These rules vary from regular travel rules in pre-COVID-19 times. Please make sure to verify your eligibility before purchasing tickets, or you will be denied boarding at the airport if you do not meet the eligibility criteria. All transit and entry rules can be found on the IATA website, by selecting the country you will be traveling through at this link:
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm
DOMESTIC CONNECTING FLIGHTS / TRANSFERRING TO INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS IN BENGALURU, DELHI, and MUMBAI
An extensive schedule of domestic flights serving multiple airports across India is currently operating. Canadians wishing to return home are strongly encouraged to consider using domestic flights at their earliest opportunity to shuttle to major hubs to connect to one of the above-mentioned non-Canadian assisted relief flights. For more information on domestic flights, please visit
https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/en.
Passengers flying into Bengaluru, Delhi or Mumbai to connect to international flights may need to follow self-isolation/quarantine requirements, if their stopover is overnight and requires them to leave the airport. Each passenger should carry proof of their planned onward journey. For information on specific requirements, please consult the relevant local authorities.