New Delhi (NVI): The suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger flights to and from India has been extended till December 31, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said today.
The aviation regulator also said that international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected flights to and from India by competent authorities on case to case basis.
A circular released by DGCA read, “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 1st of 31st December, 2020.”
The DGCA official release further said that, the above restrictions will not hamper operations of international all-cargo operations and flights approved by it.
This announcement comes day after the Centre issued fresh COVID-19 guidelines for December for surveillance, containment and caution in states and UTs.
Earlier, the suspension on commercial international passenger flights was extended till November 30, owing to unrelenting rise in the COVID-19 cases across the country.
After two months of long hiatus, domestic flights resumed operations on May 25 but international flights have continued to remain suspended. However, Indian airlines have been permitted to operate special international flights under the Vande Bharat Mission.
In addition to this, the government has also established air bubble arrangement with several countries, under which airlines from both countries are allowed to operate a specified number of flights.
India now has formed air travel bubble arrangement with around 21 countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, the US, the UK, Germany, France and Bangladesh, as per the latest update.
-RJV
