Coronavirus: UK expands repatriation flights from South Asia

As many as 7,000 more Britons will return home from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh as the UK government has announced to operate 31 more charter flights over the next week to repatriate its citizens stranded in the coronavirus lockdown across South Asia.

The flights, scheduled between April 20 and 27, include 17 from India, 10 from Pakistan and four from Bangladesh.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said that 7,000 more people will be able to get home from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, after 31 more charter flights have been announced from the region over the next week.

"Our special charter deal with the airlines has enabled us to return thousands more. Now, I can announce the next 31 flights from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh which will get 7,000 more Brits safely back home," said UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

"We are working around the clock to get British travellers home. Since the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, we've helped more than a million British citizens .