Repatriation flights for Indians wanting to go back home are set to start from May 7, according to a Government of India announcement.

Pavan Kapoor, Indian ambassador to the UAE, who spoke to local media sources, said, “We will make a flight manifesto and will decide who will go on which flight. The list will be made from those who are already registered on our website,” said the envoy.

“We have not done anything like this before. So, as the starting process, I don’t think we will have more than two flights on May 7,” he added. The first two flights are expected to fly to Kerala.

According to the Consul General of India to Dubai, of the 197,000 Indians in the UAE that have registered on the online portal to go back home, will be prioritised on a need basis. Those travelling first will include Indian workers in distress, medical cases, pregnant women, and a few on tourist and visit visas. The travel would be arranged by aircraft and naval ships.

Meanwhile, Air India Express will reopen its offices in the UAE from Tuesday morning and passengers will be allotted air tickets as per the list provided by the Indian missions in the UAE. There is no clarity on the timing of flights on May 7 and the mode of payment.