Eighteen months since they stopped, there is no sign of resumption of international flights from India even as there is now an apprehension of a third wave of coronavirus.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday extended the suspension on international scheduled commercial flights till September 30 owing to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. The ban was to end on August 31.
“In partial modification of circular dated 26-06-2020, the competent authority has further extended the validity of circular issued on the subject cited above regarding Scheduled International commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hrs IST of September 30, 2021,” the DGCA circular said.
“However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis,” it added. However, the restriction doesn’t apply to international all-cargo operations as well as flights specifically approved by the DGCA. Scheduled international passenger flights were suspended in India on March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020 and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with selected countries since July 2020. India has formed air bubble pacts with around 25 countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France.
Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories. However, some countries that had ‘air bubble’ arrangements with India banned air travel to and from the country at the peak of the second wave.
These countries were Australia, Canada, Bangladesh, Germany, France, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Italy, Kuwait, Iran, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.
While some countries lifted the ban later, many others are yet to do so. The UK recently elevated India to its amber list of countries. The elevation means travellers from India no longer have to undergo institutional quarantine upon entering the country.
Meanwhile, after a long hiatus, flights between India and Bangladesh will resume from September 3, 2021. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said that passenger airlines can resume operations after four months under an air bubble agreement signed by the two countries last year. “The air bubble may be resumed w.e.f. 03.09.21 till resumption of scheduled International passenger flights,’ MoCA letter read. Sri Lanka has also decided to resume flight from nine cities in India.