Bahrain's Flight Ban On India: What's The Reason?

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused countries around the world to take swift action to cut off international travel to try and stop or slow the spread of the virus. Many countries have banned flights to and from India, including the United Arab Emirates, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Bahrain has also implemented restrictions on passengers travelling from India, requiring them to carry a negative RT-PCR test conducted within 48 hours of their scheduled departure time. These measures were put in place in April 2021 and may have changed since then.

Bahrain's COVID-19 entry requirements for Indian travellers

As of April 27, 2021, all passengers travelling to Bahrain from India were required to carry a negative RT-PCR test report. The test report had to be validated and certified by an ICMR-accredited lab and conducted within 48 hours of the scheduled departure time.

As of August 29, 2021, Bahrain updated its entry rules for travellers. Fully vaccinated travellers eligible for a visa on arrival at Bahrain International Airport can enter the country by presenting a valid vaccination certificate. They will then be required to take a PCR test on their fifth day in the country.

Vaccinated passengers arriving from GCC countries or countries with which Bahrain has signed a mutual vaccination recognition agreement must:

• Conduct a PCR test upon arrival
• Conduct a PCR test on the fifth day after arrival
• Conduct a PCR test on the tenth day after arrival

All other vaccinated passengers aged six and above, with an approved vaccination certificate from countries eligible for a visa on arrival, must:

• Present an approved PCR certificate before boarding the plane, administered within 72 hours of departure
• Conduct a PCR test upon arrival
• Conduct a PCR test on the fifth day after arrival
• Conduct a PCR test on the tenth day after arrival

Passengers arriving from red-list countries, including those who have transited through them in the last 14 days, are prohibited from entering Bahrain unless they are citizens or residents.

All travellers who are six years or older and are arriving from a red-list country must:

• Present a negative PCR test with a QR code, conducted within 48 hours of departure
• Take a PCR test upon arrival
• Quarantine for ten days and take additional PCR tests throughout the quarantine

India's air bubble agreement with Bahrain

India has bilateral air bubble agreements with 28 countries, including Bahrain. The Indian Embassy in Bahrain announced that both governments had agreed to operationalize the air bubble arrangement between the two countries.

The arrangement allows Indian and Bahraini national carriers to operate a specified number of flights between the two nations. This means that people can fly from India even for a visit, and it also allows stranded expats in India to return to Bahrain.

The agreement specifies the categories of persons allowed on such flights. From India to Bahrain, Bahraini nationals or residents and Indian nationals holding a valid Bahraini visa are permitted. From Bahrain to India, Indian nationals stranded in Bahrain, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders holding Bahraini passports, and Bahraini nationals holding valid visas issued by an Indian Mission are allowed.

Designated airlines from both countries can sell tickets for flights between India and Bahrain in each direction through their websites, sales agents, and Global Distribution Systems. Passengers are requested to check with Air India, Air India Express, and Gulf Air for ticket bookings.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air travel

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on air travel, causing significant disruptions and changes to the industry. Here are some paragraphs detailing the effects of the pandemic on air travel:

International Flight Restrictions

Due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in India, several countries, including Bahrain, imposed temporary bans on international flights from the country. These restrictions were implemented to curb the spread of the virus and protect their citizens. This caused significant disruptions to travel plans and affected the aviation industry financially.

Financial Losses

The pandemic has resulted in substantial financial losses for airlines and the aviation sector as a whole. With a reduction of up to 94% in revenue passenger kilometres, airlines and airports faced losses amounting to $314 billion and $100 billion, respectively. These losses had a ripple effect on the supply chain and industries that rely on aviation, causing further economic fallout.

Safety Measures and Passenger Behaviour

The implementation of safety measures, such as social distancing, mask mandates, and testing, has become a crucial aspect of air travel during the pandemic. These measures have had a direct impact on passenger behaviour and preferences. For example, the willingness to travel has decreased, and passengers are now more sensitive to factors like cost, duration, and airport access. The fear of infection, concerns about quarantine, and anxiety due to travel restrictions have all played a role in shaping passenger choices.

Environmental Impact

The pandemic has also had a notable impact on the environment, with a reduction in air pollution and carbon emissions globally. This was particularly evident in China, where lockdowns and travel restrictions led to a significant decrease in carbon dioxide emissions. However, as restrictions eased and economic activities resumed, greenhouse gas emissions rebounded.

Long-Term Effects

The pandemic has had long-term effects on the aviation industry, with a weakened financial state for airlines and changes in passenger behaviour. It has also highlighted the need for resilience and agility in the industry to adapt to unforeseen crises. Additionally, the increased use of video conferencing and online collaboration tools during the pandemic may have a lasting impact on business and leisure travel, potentially reducing the demand for air travel in the future.

Other countries that banned flights from India

As of April 2021, Bahrain had not banned flights from India. However, effective from April 27, 2021, all passengers travelling from India to Bahrain were required to carry a negative RT-PCR test. The test report should be validated and certified by an ICMR-accredited lab and conducted within 48 hours of the scheduled departure time.

• Iran—banned travellers from India from April 26, 2021.
• Kuwait—banned flights from India from April 24, 2021. Freighters continued to operate.
• Indonesia—decided not to issue visas to foreigners who had visited India in the past 14 days.
• France—imposed a mandatory antigen test on travellers from India, in addition to the pre-boarding RT-PCR test.
• UAE—banned all flights from India, except cargo flights, for 10 days from April 25, 2021.
• USA—issued a travel advisory for its citizens visiting India. United Airlines suspended its flight operations to India but resumed them on April 25/26, 2021.
• UK—added India to its travel "Red list", barring all travel from the country and mandating a 10-day hotel quarantine for UK and Irish citizens returning from India.
• Hong Kong—suspended all flights from India from April 20 until May 2, 2021.
• Singapore—banned all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who had travelled to India in the last 14 days from entry or transit via Singapore from April 24, 2021.
• Canada—suspended all flights from India for 30 days from April 23/24, 2021. Cargo flights continued to operate.
• Australia—announced a reduction in flights from India.
• New Zealand—barred all flights from India until further notice.
• Qatar—required all passengers travelling to Qatar from India to present a negative RT-PCR test report at the Indian departure airport, conducted within 72 hours of the scheduled arrival time in Qatar.
• Germany—from April 26, 2021, entry into Germany from India was restricted, with certain exceptions, as the country classified India as a Virus Variant Area.
• Bangladesh—from April 26, 2021, entry restrictions for Indians into Bangladesh from India by air, rail, or land were extended until May 9, 2021. Flight operations from Dhaka were suspended from April 14, 2021. Cargo movement was permitted.
• Italy—from April 26, 2021, entry restrictions were imposed on Indians entering Italy. Only residents were allowed to return from India with a negative test report and were required to quarantine upon arrival.
• Oman—from April 24, 2021, entry restrictions were imposed on Indians entering Oman until further notice. Only Omani citizens, diplomats, healthcare workers, and their families were allowed to return from India with a negative test report and were required to quarantine upon arrival.

The status of flights from India to Bahrain as of 2024

As of 2024, Bahrain has not banned flights from India. However, in April 2021, Bahrain did enforce some restrictions on passengers travelling from India. All passengers were required to carry a negative RT-PCR test, which had been certified by an ICMR-accredited lab and conducted within 48 hours of their scheduled departure time.

In July 2021, Bahrain was one of the few Gulf countries that had not banned flights from India. However, it is unclear how long this remained the case, as some sources state that flights from India to the UAE were banned until 1 August 2021. The UAE eventually lifted its ban on flights from India in September 2021.

In July 2021, India had bilateral air bubble agreements with 28 countries, including Bahrain. These agreements allowed flights to continue between India and these countries, despite the ban on international flights to and from India, which was extended several times throughout 2021.

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