Why Are Flights From India Still Landing?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/flights-india-still-landing-uk-24136573

[THECORBYLOON]

"Three planes potentially packed with passengers touched down at Heathrow Airport from Mumbai and Delhi early this morning – 26 days after India was slapped on the red list.

Only British and Irish citizens, or those with residence rights in the UK – including long-term visa holders – are allowed into England having travelled from or transited through India."

They don't know how many passengers (if any) were on the planes but if they were British, Irish or had residence rights, it's permitted anyway.

[Ken4155]

Apparently, TTT, in the 3.5 weeks since India was placed on the 'red list', there have been around 110 direct flights from India to the UK.
Again apparently, it is to allow British Nationals to fly home and to ensure the transport of 'critical freight' is not disrupted.

[teacake44]

There running out of fuel.

[ToraToraTora]

The only reason I am even aware of this is that my firm has Indians flying back this evening, I found out in a meeting and that made me wonder, how is that allowed? They are not British returning they are Indians who've been home for whatever reason and are back working in the UK from Monday.

[saintpeter48]

But if the government stopped incoming flights from India, wouldn't people from that country just fly to France or Germany for example, and then fly into the UK from there.
Unless the British Government stopped ALL international flights then thats it, chances of covid spreading will be around for a while yet!

[Jackdaw33]

They probably have residence rights or long-term visas.

[teacake44]

Ring Boris, he will give you a mumbled explanation. Well er er er what you sure, well er er may be er er, leave it with me er.

[ummmm]

Surely they'd be checked and expected to quarantine. It's not like they flew in without a passport so should be easy enough to check on them.

[fender62]

so why are indians flying to a fro, are they all business men, no indian should have set foot on uk soil till thay have had a pcr test in india
before flying here, and then another test when they land, and not allowed to walk away freely, hoping thye will do the right thing and stay at home, or going back to work on monday, pathetic government im sad to say, all about trade and relations based on trade.

[ToraToraTora]

well the government do do things I think are silly but in all fairness it's a question of degree, I'd still rather have Boris than the shambles opposite!

[gulliver1]

Just another cock by Boris , he is very good at lying ,
U turns, or cock ups, take your pick with the Indian Saga.

[fiveleaves]

Lots of Indian nationals living in the UK and many more with family and relatives in India. Some may be flying for urgent family reasons eg funerals and other people may need to fly for work reasons

[youngmafbog]

Do as I say not as I do I'm afraid.

The Tories are looking more and more like labour everyday.

Where is the proper Tory party hiding? The 1922 need to get into action and kick Johnson up the JAcky but having said that still far far far better than COB, McDonnel and Abbot would have been.

[eve1974]

As has been said in some of the replies above - they all will have a right to be here. Either as British nationals or on valid work visas.

I’m sure they will have to quarantine in the quarantine hotels etc now.

The bigger worry for me is the airline crews. Unlikely they will be quarantining on both sides. So the crew is potentially a big spreader. Equally unsafe for the U.K. side airport staff who have to go in and clean / restock the planes between flights

[bobbinwales]

// no indian should have set foot on uk soil till thay have had a pcr test in india
before flying here, and then another test when they land, and not allowed to walk away freely, hoping thye will do the right thing and stay at home, or going back to work on monday, pathetic government im sad to say, all about trade and relations based on trade.//

What makes you think they dont have to have a test and can just go back into work on a Monday. Its always better to check the rules before spouting off in case its nonsense which this looks like

The rules are:

Before you travel to England you must:

take a COVID-19 test
book a quarantine hotel package, including 2 COVID-19 tests
complete a passenger locator form
On arrival in England
On arrival in England you must:

quarantine in a managed hotel, including 2 COVID-19 tests

Thats the rules according to gov.uk. It would be intresting to know if someone can show thats not happening. Maybe TTT can tell us what happens to his company's people flying in from India

[bobbinwales]

//Some may be flying for urgent family reasons eg funerals and other people may need to fly for work reasons//
Am not convinced about funerals. Am sure for many its justa ne xcuse or a lie. Many people here havent been able to go to funerals 5 miles away because of limited numbers so why fly thousands of miles. Often its weddings too

[alavahalf]

The people I work for are a multi billion pound company. They have businesses in Uk, China, Malaysia and the USA just for starters. As a rule they have employees travelling between all of these countries all of the time. Once lockdown started last year they put an instant ban on employees travelling anywhere in the world. Money was invested in more technology and business carried on as usual with the aid of conference calls and visual links. Even the specialists can give instruction to someone else anywhere on the planet to complete the most complex operation. It has changed the way the business operates and proves that very few people 'Need' to get on a plane. These flights arriving from India are questionable.

[eve1974]

Hypothetically if you / me / anyone else:

was a British National that had been living in India and covid got as bad as it has... would you want to fly back to U.K. for your own safety ?

I would (yes selfish as it may sound!)

Of course not all the people on these flights will fit into that category but many may.

So I just wondered what each of you wld do? Curious.

[ToraToraTora]

eve the point is, why is it even an option? we should not allow a flight from India to arrive, end of.

[Unsureme]

Tora,My Firm? Thought you worked in a Bank?