The Delhi flight will depart at 2pm and Amritsar at 4pm.
As part of the Vande Bharat Mission, more than 425 passengers get ready to board the special flight from Dubai to Delhi and Amritsar on Wednesday.
The Delhi flight scheduled today, is likely to take 241 passengers and four infants while the Amritsar flight has a list of 178 distressed Indians. The Delhi flight will depart at 2pm and Amritsar at 4pm.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation in India said a total of 6,037 Indians were flown back to India in 31 flights operated by Air India and Air India Express under the #VandeBharatMission in five days beginning from May 7.
The airlines are operating a total of 64 flights – 42 by Air India and 24 by AI Express – to 12 countries including the USA, the UK, Bangladesh, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Philippines, the UAE and Malaysia to repatriate 14,800 Indians back in the first phase, explained MoCA.
The second phase of the mission will be launched from May 16 to 22. Sources said it will bring back Indians from 31 countries. A total of 149 flights including feeder flights will be deployed under the second phase.
In 1st phase of Vande Bharat we were to bring back 14,800 Indians on 64 flights. 8500 Indians have already returned till this morning. More flights are underway.
In the 2nd phase the numbers are being doubled. 30,000 more Indians will return from 31 countries on 149 flights.
Phase-2 of Vande Bharat from 16-22 May will also include flights from Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand & Ukraine.
On Tuesday, two flights departed from Dubai. The first flight to Kannur took off at 2.45pm with 20 pregnant women, 41 medical cases and several senior citizens while the second flight to Mangalore took off at 5pm.
Khaleej Times journalists track the historic Vande Bharat Mission:
1:30pm
Vipul, Consul-General of India to Dubai giving a brief on two relief flights to Delhi and Amritsar from Dubai and ensuring all operations remain smooth and hassle free for all passengers.
Kuldeep had suffered heart attack. He is Being helped by the officials to complete the formalities at Dubai airport.
12:47pm
People queue up for boarding for the Amritsar flight.
12:40pm
B. K Chaturvedi has lost his bag while coming to airport to catch special flight to Delhi. The Consulate General of India, Dubai was able to return the bag to the passenger.
12:37pm
A 35-week pregnant Indian national gets ready to board the special flight from Dubai under the Vande Bharat Mission.
