Germany removing entry ban on India: Ambassador Lindner

NEW DELHI: Come Wednesday and eligible travellers from India will again be able to transit through Germany for other Schengen states. Germany will reclassify India, UK, Portugal and Russia to “high (Covid) incidence areas” — down from the higher travel restriction level of “virus variant areas”.
German ambassador to India, Walter J Lindner, tweeted Tuesday: “Promised to work hard on easing travel restrictions for travellers from India and update you immediately. And voila: from (Wednesday) Germany is removing entry ban and easing travel rules for 5 countries where the Delta variant is widespread, including India! Details soon on website….”
With Switzerland open for fully-vaccinated Indians, this is “a huge quantum leap,” said a senior travel industry insider.
The Lufthansa website says: “Please note that as of Wednesday (July 7) 00.00 (German local time), the UK, India, Portugal and the Russian Federation are no longer considered as virus variant areas. (New: High incidence areas).”
Germany had classified India area of variant of concern from April 26, 2021, to July 6.
Lufthansa website says it is currently allowed to carry all booked passengers on departures from or departures to countries in high incidence areas under the following conditions: “Passengers with a flight from a high-incidence Non-Schengen country who are entering Germany or have an onward flight to a Schengen country. Passengers with a flight from a high-incidence Schengen country who are entering Germany or have an onward flight to a Schengen country or Non-Schengen country…”
On the other hand, Lufthansa website lists it can carry the following booked passengers on departures (or travel commencements) from the countries of the virus variant areas: “Passengers with German nationality or passengers with a valid residence permit in Germany (upon presentation of a German registration certificate). These passengers (aged six years and older) must present a negative test result… Passengers of other nationalities but only if they have a connecting flight to a Non-Schengen state and do not leave the transit area in Frankfurt or Munich (with some exceptions).”