Italy blocks flights from India: new variant curbs travel

Italy blocks flights from India: This is the latest in air transportation.

The situation in India is increasingly difficult, after all. Little oxygen, the virus is running fast. And the Indian variant is scary (all the more so since it has already been detected in Italy, in two citizens from Veneto of Indian origin returning from their country). Hence, the decision of the Minister of Health and the entire government.

News, this, that comes in the very month when the'Bergamo Orio al Serio airport launched a new direct flight to India.

Italy blocks flights from India: government announcement

"I signed a new ordinance that Bans entry into Italy for those who have been in India in the last 14 days": this was Roberto Speranza's announcement on his social profiles. With one million cases every three days, the Asian country scares Europe (and beyond). Hence the decision: Italy blocks flights from India and those who have been there in the last 14 days are obliged to undergo 14 days of quarantine. Even in cases where the two mandatory swabs (one in the country of departure, one in Italy) have given negative results.

The decision follows an identical one made by Germany. "Our scientists are working to study the new Indian variant. We cannot let our guard down," warned the Health Minister. It is a frightening mutation coming from India. The first case in Europe was discovered in Switzerland, in a passenger who was transiting through the airport. Hence, the choice of several countries to block incoming flights, imposing double swabs and quarantine on those who have been in India in the last 14 days. Italy also intends to curb the problem of stopover flights, those who in the first phase since the pandemic had maximized the spread of the virus, when the "danger" still came from China.

Moreover, one could not go to India for tourism even before its health situation worsened. Now, here are the restrictions even for Italian citizens returning from India (because they are natives of the country, or because they need to go there for work).

New flights on standby

With Italy blocking flights from India, new flights between the two countries also remain on standby. The Caravaggio Orio al Serio International Airport, a major airport in northern Italy, had presented just in April its new connection with Amritsar (Pujang city in northern India). From the stopover, as early as late 2020 the Asian country could be reached with the company SpiceJet (and with stopovers in Georgia, Tblisi or Kutaisi). Then, the news of the direct Orio-Amristar.

Aboard a Airbus A330 with a capacity of 460 passengers (once anti-Covid regulations come into effect), the flight operated by HiFly on behalf of SpiceJet will depart overnight over the weekend. And it will reach Amritsar, a cultural and spiritual center of the Sikh religion that - with its famous Golden Temple - attracts worshippers and visitors every year.

Of course, all flights to India (old and new) are now on standby. In anticipation and hope that the situation will improve soon.

• covid-19