Covid-19 has certainly changed the way we think and operate. It’s been a while since scheduled domestic services resumed at Delhi Airport. The focus of our activities remains on the safety and well-being of our passengers and staff members. There are various reasons for which you might be planning to travel right now on domestic or limited international flights during the pandemic. There are also various scenarios under which you might land at Delhi Airport. The precautions mentioned below need to be followed to ensure that you and fellow passengers Fly Safe and Stay Safe.
Passengers arriving at Delhi Airport by International flight with no onward connection
As per the government mandate, all passengers arriving by international flight at Delhi Airport must undergo 7 days institutional quarantine at their own cost (an undertaking that passengers accept this obligation is signed by the individual or head of the family and retained by the overseas mission/embassy before the booking is confirmed), followed by 7 days of home quarantine. In case you are planning to stay on in Delhi NCR, you will have to undergo the mandatory health screening which includes a primary screening by Airport Health Officials (APHO). This includes thermal temperature screening by discreetly mounted, highly accurate, mass screening cameras
Health self-declaration forms must be filled in duplicate by all passengers. These forms will be collected on arrival. To save time, please complete the forms whilst onboard the flight.
You will also be required to undergo a secondary screening at the Delhi Government post after which you will be allowed to proceed to the approved quarantine location. The State Health officials from States of UP /Punjab/Haryana/ Rajasthan & Uttarakhand are positioned at the separate Triage facilities created at Meeters & Greeters area and passengers belonging to these states should report directly at the respective State posts. Passengers upon arriving at the first airport of disembarkation in India are advised to be quarantined at the city of arrival.
Passengers seeking exemption will need to fill an exemption form and discuss their case with Government officials (in the “meet and greet” corridor) inside the terminal on arrival. If exemption from quarantine in Delhi is approved and their final destination is another state they must make arrangements for quarantine on arrival in the respective state with Government officials.
At Delhi Airport passengers may be considered for exemption only if they fall into one of the four exemption categories mention below. Airlines may also notify passengers at time of reservation that the receiving Indian State Government(s) may authorize exemptions from institutional quarantine for four specific categories on a case by case basis:
(1) Pregnant women
(2) Suffered a death in the family
(3) Suffering from serious illness (Description to be provided)
(4) Parents accompanied by children below 10 years
An undertaking form is also required to be completed and emailed to [email protected]. Documents required to be sent as attachments for consideration of exemption requests:
(1) Medical certificate
(2) Death certificate
(3) Copy of Passport
(4) Ticket for next flights
Quarantine guidelines for domestic passengers arriving/transit at Delhi Airport
Upon arrival at Delhi Airport, all domestic passengers have to undergo mandatory thermal screening, which is done after baggage reclaim as you head towards the exit gates. To ensure an accurate reading is taken please lift any plastic face shield, but continue to wear your face mask. Only asymptomatic passengers (those with no symptoms) will be permitted to exit the airport and shall home quarantine themselves for 7 days.
For transit passengers having further flights, they can go through the Domestic flight transfer area or move up to the departures check-in level, while re-entering the airport they will have to go through mandatory temperature check at the departures entry gate before their next flight. The symptomatic passengers will be isolated and sent to the containment zone next to the terminal building escorted by the respective airline officials. They will be further sent to Hospital/Medical centres for COVID-19 checks /treatment as per Government guidelines.
Passengers arriving on an international Vande Bharat Mission flight may only take a connecting domestic flight if it also comes under the Vande Bharat Mission. However, passengers who are planning to board onward domestic flights will have to obtain an authorised exemption certificate, if they are coming through Non-Vande Bharat international flights. All international arriving passengers have to undergo mandatory health screening process.
The Vande Bharat Mission was launched on 7th May 2020 as a repatriation exercise by Govt. of India. Under this mission, Indian nationals who are stranded overseas are brought back and foreign nationals and NRIs who are stuck in India are repatriated to their countries. Flight bookings for Mission Vande Bharat are available for Indian nationals who have completed their mandatory registration with the respective embassies.
Your cooperation is important to us, #FlySafe through Delhi Airport!
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*Disclaimer: this blog is a compilation of the various government advisories issued in May 2020.
