Air carrier IndiGo will operate 97 repatriation flights to bring stranded Indians from the Middle East, the airline said on Thursday.
The flights will operate between Kerala and Saudi Arabia, Doha, Kuwait and Muscat, the airline said in a statement. IndiGo has been granted nearly half of the total 180 repatriation flights allotted to private airlines.
Till now, Air India and Air India Express were only carrying out evacuation operations to bring stranded Indians under Vande Bharat Mission.
IndiGo said the 97 repatriation flights will include 36 flights from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 28 from Doha, 23 from Kuwait, and 10 from Muscat, to Kerala.
"We had expressed eagerness to support the Indian government's repatriation efforts from the Middle-East. We are grateful for the approval to operate flights to four countries to bring back our fellow citizens, who are either stranded due to suspension of operations or have registered to fly back owing to the economic landscape," the statement quoted IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Ronojoy Dutta as saying.
"These special flights offer an opportunity to leverage our network strength in the Middle-East to support the nation at this crucial time. IndiGo will continue to contribute and adapt its business to the needs of the hour," he added.
( With inputs from ANI )