Over 20,000 Indian seafarers are set to return home or join duties as shipping companies and maritime bodies plan additional charter flights.
"Between May and July 1 we have facilitated 40 charter flights enabling travel of around 8,000 seafarers. We have received applications for another 10-15 charter flights," said Captain Daniel J Joseph, Deputy Director General of Shipping.
Typically around 20,000 seafarers join merchant vessels or return to India each month as a part of their work contracts. But due to Covid-19 related lockdowns and travel restrictions the crew change process got delayed.
Scheduled international flights from India are still