MUSCAT: National airline Air India has started to issue tickets to Indians who will be repatriated from Oman to Kerala and Chennai on May 9 and May 12, a senior embassy official told The Arabian Stories on Wednesday.

According to the official, the two flights to Kochi and Chennai will leave at 4:15pm. “We are still finalizing the applicant list and whoever has been confirmed (passengers) have been asked to purchase the tickets from Air India,” he said.

According to sources, the ticket price to both the sectors are priced at OMR 71.

The first flight on May 9 will leave from Kochi at 1pm and will arrive in Muscat at 3:15pm. The flight will then take the passengers to Kochi at 4:15pm.

The second flight on Mag 12 will leave from Chennai at 1pm and will Muscat airport at 3:15pm.

Who can travel?

According to the official, the priority will be given to medical emergency cases, pregnant women, workers in distress, senior citizens as well as to other people who are stranded in difficult situations.

Health guidance

“Other conditions of travel, including quarantine requirements in India as well as health requirements to board the flight will be conveyed in due course and will have to be accepted by each passenger,” the official added.

Earlier the Indian government had announced that it would only do a medical screening of the passengers before the flight and only asymptomatic persons would be allowed to travel. Each passenger will have to fill a self-reporting form to be presented at the health and immigration counter at their destination.

According to sources, returnees would undergo COVID-19 once they complete 14-day quarantine in a hospital or government –arranged institution on a payment basis.

Contact embassy for help

Embassy helpline numbers: +968-24695981 80071234 (toll free) +968-93577979 (WhatsApp).