Amid Covid gloom, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday extended suspension of scheduled international flights till May 31, 2021.
However Vande Bharat Mission and flights under the travel bubbles India has so far created — which are currently not suspended by other countries — will continue.
During the second surge, about 20 countries have in the last 10 days imposed restrictions like flight suspension from India or stricter entry norms for travellers from here. Since April 15, India has been witnessing a steep rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.
Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23 last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“In partial modification of circular date 26-6-2020, the competent authority has further extended the validity of circular issued on the subject cited above regarding scheduled international commercial passenger services to or from India till 2359 hrs IST of May 31, 2021. The restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA,” the DGCA circular stated.
Many countries, including the US, UK, Kuwait, Australia, Italy, Bangladesh, Thailand, Hong Kong, UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, France, Kuwait, Oman, Indonesia, and Canada have banned flights from India, citing Covid-19 cases and the “double mutant” virus being found in the country.
However, since June, the Government allowed limited operations of Air India flights under the “Vande Bharat” mission for certain categories of Overseas Citizenship of India, Persons of Indian Origin card-holders and other Indians who were stuck abroad due to the pandemic and has so far formed air bubbles with some countries for the past one year.
India currently has a bilateral air bubble arrangement for the operation of special international passenger flights with 28 countries, including Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, the Maldives, Nigeria, Qatar, the UAE, the UK and the USA. The other countries with which India has such a pact are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Kuwait, Nepal, Netherlands, Oman, Russia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.