Over 220 Overseas Koreans in New Delhi, India Return by Special Flight... Second Special Flight Planned

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] A Korean Air special flight carrying more than 220 overseas Koreans and expatriates who were staying in New Delhi, India, has arrived at Incheon International Airport.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korean Embassy in India on the 6th, the Korean Air temporary special flight took off from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at 7:40 PM on the 5th (local time) and landed at Incheon International Airport around 5:30 AM today.

With the Indian government issuing a nationwide lockdown order on the 25th of last month, the embassy has been providing consular assistance such as helping issue travel permits so that overseas Koreans could move to the airport. The more than 220 Koreans on board the temporary special flight included expatriates, students, and travelers.

The arrivals this time are scheduled to self-quarantine for 14 days. However, if they test positive, they will be isolated in separate facilities and receive treatment.

The local embassy, consulate general, and Korean associations are planning to survey additional return demands and promote a second special flight. Currently, special flight approval procedures are underway in Mumbai, India, and the Korean association in Chennai, where Hyundai Motor and Samsung Electronics factories are located in the south, is reportedly preparing a charter flight directly.

Meanwhile, the Indian government announced that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India reached 3,577 as of the afternoon of the 5th local time. Korean Air had been operating the New Delhi-Incheon route seven times a week and the Mumbai-Incheon route three times a week but completely suspended all flights since early last month.