Alert! The Indian Government Extends The Suspension Of Scheduled International Flights, Know Details
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Indian government extended the suspension of formerly scheduled international commercial passenger services until December 31, 2020.
The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) stated in a notice of “Travel and Visa restrictions related to COVID-19”: When the notice, dated November 26th, 2020, was partially modified, the competent officials further extended the validity of the notice issued on the case cited earlier regarding scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hrs as of December 31, 2020.
The order stated: This restriction does not apply on flights and international all-cargo operations specifically approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Suspension on scheduled international commercial passenger services to and from India extended till 31st December: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) pic.twitter.com/SPT68cxkRX
— ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2020
The aviation administrator further clarified that the competent authority may allow international scheduled flights on certain routes on a case basis.
Earlier this month, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation extended the ban on scheduled international flights until November 30. Although regular international flights are still banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, India has entered into bubble agreements with many countries.
According to the bubble agreement between the two nations, special flights of international airlines can still be operated by their airlines to each other’s territories.
In October, the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India and Ukraine established a separate bilateral air bubble agreement on special international passenger flights between the two countries, allowing Indians to travel to more than 13 countries, including the UAE, Kenya, the US, the UK, Bhutan, and France.
It is worth noting that due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, since March 23, India’s scheduled international flights have been suspended.
However, since May, with the support of the Vande Bharat Mission, bilateral air bubble agreements have been formed between India and other countries, and since July, the special international passenger flights have been operated in India under the bilateral air bubble agreement.
