Omicron scare puts off Dec 15 resumption plan
Amid Omicron scare, India may not resume scheduled international flights from December 15 as planned earlier.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday decided to postpone the resumption of the scheduled international flights from December 15 citing “evolving global scenario” in the wake of the emergence of the new Covid variant.
No case of Omicron has been reported in India so far but air travel is becoming longer and more expensive due to guidelines issued by the Government.
“In view of the evolving global scenario with the emergence of new variants of concern, the situation is being watched closely in consultation with all stakeholders and an appropriate decision indicating the effective date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services shall be notified in due course,” the DGCA said in a circular on Wednesday.
The DGCA also referred to its circular issued on November 26 wherein it was decided that scheduled international flights will resume from December 15.
The Pioneer had earlier reported that resumption of scheduled international flights was likely to be delayed from December 15 as planned earlier.
The USA, Canada, the European Union, Israel, China have already banned travellers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi. Japan has also decided to completely shut down international air travel from its soil.
A decision on the resumption of international flights will only be taken after the Government finds it relatively safer to do so amid the prevailing pandemic situation.
The Chief Ministers of Delhi, Karnataka and Maharashtra have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to reopen international flights from affected countries in the present scenario.
The decision comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked officials to review the plans to ease international travel restrictions in light of the “emerging new evidence”.
After the PM review meeting, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that it would take the final decision on the resumption of international flights in view of global scenario.
The decision to mandatorily test all incoming passengers from these European countries and South African countries has made travel time longer and expensive. Passengers said once the traveller reaches any airport, s/he will have to take the RT-PCR test.
Test result takes around six hours to be known. The travel time has thus increased from nine hours to 15 hours. Once travellers de-board the plane, they will have to get the test done and wait in the waiting area till the results are out. This is taking five-six hours.
India has air bubble agreements with 28 countries such as the UK, Netherlands, France and Germany. India has placed countries including South Africa, China, the United Kingdom, European countries, Brazil, Botswana, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Singapore and Israel under the “at-risk” category.
In a related development, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said only two per cent of the passengers coming from countries that are not in the “at-risk” list will be subject to random sampling for coronavirus and such passengers will be permitted to leave the airport after giving the samples.
Issuing a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), the Ministry said travellers undergoing random sampling may give the sample and be allowed to leave.