Indian airlines have issued fresh guidelines for passengers flying from India to Dubai amid the prevailing COVID-19 situation. According to a statement issued by Air India Express, all passengers travelling from India to Dubai are required to present a valid negative COVID-19 test certificate issued within 48 hours from the time of sample collection. The new protocols will come into effect starting April 22 at 12 am. A similar advisory has been issued by India's flag carrier Air India and private airline Spice Jet.

As of now, passengers flying from India to Dubai are required to present a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test certificate that was conducted within 72 hours of the time of departure.

As per the Air India Express advisory, passengers must ensure that the time of sample collection (both date and time) and the time of reporting "Result date and Result time" in the certificate are accurate.

"The certificate must indicate a 'negative' test result, described either in Arabic or English, issued from a certified lab at the original point of destination where the passenger is travelling from," the advisory added.

In addition, it is mandatory for the test certificate to include a QR code that is linked to the original report for the airline's verification. Dubai Health Authority representative will also verify the same upon the passenger's arrival at the airport, the airline said.

Taking to Twitter, SpiceJet posted its updated travel guideline for passengers travelling from India to Dubai. With effect from April 22, all passengers flying from India to Dubai have to carry a negative RT-PCR test report with QR on it and the test should have been conducted within 48 hours of flight departure, the airline said.

"QR code is mandatory on the test report. Passengers not carrying the same will not be allowed to board the flight," the airline stated.

It affirmed that the stipulated time frame for accepting negative COVID-19 reports would start from the date of sample collection, and not when the report was issued. SpiceJet has also directed its passengers to carry a printed copy of their negative COVID-19 certificates, adding that it must be in typed form and not handwritten.

"Handwritten COVID-19 reports will not be accepted," the airline stated.

The advisory stressed that all negative COVID-19 reports must have the name and contact details of the laboratory or the health institute where the test was conducted.

"Information should be typed preferably in block letters, so it's clear and easily understood," the advisory added.

As of now, only the two flag carriers of India and Spice Jet have issued the updated travel advisory for passengers. Meanwhile, other Indian airlines and UAE carriers continue to require a PCR test with validity within 72 hours before departure.

Speaking to the Khaleej Times, TP Sudheesh, general manager of Deira Travel and Tourist Agency, said that the updated protocols will make travel a little more complicated for passengers as 48 hours is too little a time when there is some form of last-minute emergencies.