National carrier Air India has decided to double the number of its flights to the US from the first week of August as several Indian students studying abroad are facing problems.

Air India has explained that with the US Presidential Proclamation restricting flights from India due to the surge in Covid cases, some of its flights to the USA, including those between Mumbai and Newark, had to be cancelled.

However, the sudden cancellation of flights had left many Indian students studying abroad stranded at home and unable to join their academic sessions. 

"Vis-a-vis the approximate 40 flights we used to operate to the USA before the Presidential proclamation, we could operate 11 flights per week to USA in July, 2021. The frequency is being increased to 22 from 7th August, 2021. With the frequency being enhanced on the US sector, all-out efforts are being made to accommodate as many passengers as possible in our US-bound flights from August," Air India said in a statement. 

Air India has also decided to operate additional flights between New Delhi and Newark on August 6, 13, 20 and 27. "These are in addition to the existing flights operating on this sector," it said.

The government had arranged for the vaccination of students studying  abroad on high priority in order to enable them to join their academic classes in foreign institutions.