Indians Travelling To The UK Can Bypass Schengen By Transiting Through Amsterdam, Says KLM

KLM, the Dutch airline, has stated that UK-bound passengers transiting through Amsterdam do not need a Schengen Visa. Moreover, it stated that this is only applicable to KLM and not to its partner airline, Air France.

Indian nationals bound for the United Kingdom do not need a transit/Schengen visa while transiting Amsterdam Schiphol, as long as they have a valid visa for the United Kingdom and meet all applicable transit and entry conditions at the destination. Passengers are responsible for determining their own eligibility. Refer to klm.traveldoc.aero for a general overview of travel conditions, KLM said in a statement, adding that this “applies to KLM only” (and not Air France).

Following Brexit, the EU has decided that non-EU citizens must obtain a transit Schengen visa in order to fly to the UK on transit flights operated by many of its member airlines. This requirement does not apply to Switzerland, which is not a member of the EU. Many European Union (EU) carriers, including Lufthansa and Air France, have denied Indians who are supposed to travel to the UK via their hubs in Frankfurt/Munich and Paris, respectively, boarding at the origin in India if they do not have a transit/regular Schengen visa.

The reason is following Brexit, the EU has chose to “punish” the UK by requiring non-EU citizens to have a transit Schengen visa in order to fly to the UK on transit flights operated by its carriers, according to top airline executives.

Surprisingly, Switzerland, which is not a member of the EU, is exempt from this rule for its airline Swiss. People flying from India to the UK on one-stop flights can do so through places like the Gulf and Switzerland without needing a transit visa. The only other option is to fly nonstop with Air India, Vistara, British Airways, or Virgin Atlantic. According to airline officials, the change took effect on January 1, 2021, right in the middle of the pandemic.

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