The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday extended the suspension of scheduled commercial international flights till 11.59 pm on February 28, 2021. This restriction, however, will not apply to international cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA. The DGCA also extended the restriction on flights between India and UK upto midnight of February 14, 2021.
Issuing a modified order in this regard, the DGCA stated that international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the “competent authority on a case-to-case basis”.
Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May, and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with selected countries since July. India has formed air bubble pacts with 24 countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France.
The DGCA has also extended the restriction on flights between India and UK upto midnight of February 14, 2021.”The competent authority has further extended the restriction on flights between India and UK upto 14’ February, 2021 (23.59 hrs),” the DGCA said. “The other terms and conditions of the said letter shall remain unchanged. UK carriers may file their bubble schedule accordingly to DGCA for approval.” The flight services between India and UK resumed from January 6, while those from UK to India will recommenced from January 8. Last month, these services were suspended to stop the spread of a mutant Covid-19 strain which was recently discovered in the UK.
Several countries, including India, had suspended flight services to the UK in the wake of the new mutant Covid-19 strain.