MUMBAI: Air India operated four relief flights from Mumbai and one from Delhi for Frankfurt on Tuesday with stranded Europeans from across the country. Prior to these international charter flights, Air India flew stranded foreigners from cities like Goa, Trivandrum, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata to hub onto the said Mumbai and Delhi departures.

Apart from this, there would be charter flights to the US as well this week. The US Embassy in India issued a statement on Monday saying that they "anticipate several flights departing from Delhi and Mumbai returning to the US this week."

US citizens stranded in India would need to fill out a form put up online by the US Embassy and enrol in their "Smart Traveler Enrolment Program" for critical information about flight opportunities.

Last week, the Indian government suspended all domestic and international passenger flights till April 14 as one of the measures to check the spread of COVID-19 in India. Only cargo flights and charter flights to fly stranded passengers are currently permitted.

While the said charter flights would bring relief to the stranded foreigners, it has led to concerns among the Air India crew rostered for these flights. Indian Pilots’ Guild, an association of Air India pilots in a letter to the airline chairman complained about poor quality of safety gear provided onboard these flights for the crew.

Calling it a "criminal neglect of duty" on part of staff/department concerned, the letter sought action against AI officials found profiteering from such substandard purchases.

"During our recent rescue flights, the protective equipment being provided to the flight crew has been failing with an alarming frequency or has been plagued with other issues. For example, shoe covers have failed in as little as 10 minutes, gloves in 3 hrs, hand sanitisers on board have not been provided in sufficient quantity, the hazmat suits have been ill fitting and available only in limited quantity increasing the risk of rupture," said the letter seeking better quality safety gear.

Others have concerns beyond safety gears. Said a rostered flight attendant, requesting anonymity: "The entire country in a lockdown because there is a possibility of contracting the viral infection in public places. Though Air India has provided safety gear for use onboard the aircraft, there are many other points where one could catch the infection. Like, when traveling to and from the airport, at the airport, inside the nine-hour long flight when using the lavatory etc. It’s incredibly stressful."

Meanwhile, the Mumbai airport said that though commercial passenger flights have been suspended, the airport operations continue with a curtailed staff of 500 manning cargo and passenger evacuation flights.

"The airport maintenance staff continue to effectively sanitize and fumigate the entire terminal buildings including the vital areas where tactile interface, as in human hands come in to play – like elevator buttons, escalators etc, implementing measures to prevent any potential spread of the virus and assure well-being of the passengers, once operations resume," said the statement issued by Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL).

