UAE-India flights: New PCR Covid test rules deter travel

Starting February 22, pre-travel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests have been made mandatory for all international passengers arriving in India, including children of all ages, Khaleej Times can reveal.

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India flights: PCR Covid tests mandatory for kids of all ages

An FAQ published on the New Delhi Airport website, an Air India official, and several travel agents in the UAE have confirmed the reports and said the existing processes were revised by the government of India in a bid to control the spread of mutant strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. India’s new travel regulations are expected to come into force by Monday, February 22.

In the UAE, expatriates, especially those with families, are reconsidering their travel plans home, travel agents told Khaleej Times. “Indian expatriates, especially those with families, are deciding not to travel to India due to high travel costs, complicated pre-travel procedures, and ongoing school examinations,” said Afi Ahmed, managing director of Smart Travels.

While an PCR test costs anything between Dh150 to Dh190 in the UAE, passengers can get the test done at New Delhi airport itself for a fee of Rs3,400 (Dh172). The fees include test and lounge charges, said the FAQ on the airport’s website.

Families are finding the costs exorbitant and since the current travel situation is highly volatile, only those with genuine emergencies are planning a trip to India, said Hemali Shah, managing director of City One Tourism.

Shah said these steps were necessary as travellers were flouting the rules. “For example, flyers whose final destination is Maharashtra were going to nearby states, deleting the Air Suvidha app and taking domestic flights to the state,” said Shah. In December, Maharashtra was the first state to introduce stringent pre-travel protocols following the British Covid-19 variant outbreak. “The government has to take action so that the virus does not spread,” she added.

Travel agents are also highly recommending that all passengers travel with tests as not all airports in India have in-house testing facilities. “People are pretty confused with the new regulations and the rule regarding kids’, including infants, has definitely discouraged travellers. Even though the ticket prices to India remain affordable, families are discouraged from travelling mainly due to ongoing school exams and pre-travel protocols,” said Ahmed.

TP Sudheesh, general manager of Deira Travels and Tourist Agency said: “The requirements are applicable even to infants. These new rules and regulations are discouraging people to travel. Only those with emergency requirements are travelling now. Leisure travel at this time is not recommended.”

“Even though an infant is not using a seat, they are defined as passengers. Also, for families, all these costs are expensive. In some cases, like Kerala, passengers have to undergo another test after seven days of quarantine, which is not feasible in many cases.” Moreover, passengers have also been asked to undergo confirmatory molecular tests at the airports in India. “There is no clarity as to what these tests are as well. So, passengers are genuinely confused,” said Ahmed.

Who is exempted from the RT-PCR test?

RT-PCR test is mandatory for all passengers irrespective of age and gender, as per the new regulations. Arrival in India without a negative report shall be allowed only for those travelling to India in the exigency of death in the family. Such passengers need to apply to the online portal at least 72 hours before boarding. The decision taken by the government as communicated on the online portal will be final,” it explained.

Do passengers need to get another test done at the airport?

All other passengers who have uploaded RT-PCR negative certificates on Air Suvidha portal shall be allowed to leave the airport or take transit flights. They will be required to undertake self-monitoring of their health for 14 days. There is a separate protocol for passengers arriving from the UK, Europe, Brazil and South Africa.

What are the quarantine requirements for passengers arriving or transiting from the UAE?

Passengers who have tested negative will be advised to self-monitor their health for 14 days.

When do the rules come into effect?

They have already come into effect.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

Dhanusha Gokulan

Originally from India, Dhanusha Gokulan has been working as a journalist for 10 years. She has a keen interest in writing about issues that plague the common person and will never turn down a human interest story. She completed her Bachelor in Arts in Journalism, Economics and English Literature from Mangalore University in 2008. In her spare time, she dabbles with some singing/songwriting, loves travelling and Audible is her favourite mobile application. Tweet at her @wordjunkie88