Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian government has extended its ban on scheduled international flights till September 30. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced on Sunday that the COVID-induced passenger flights suspension has been extended till September end.
The DGCA further said that scheduled international flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis.”
Apparently, the ban on international flights was supposed to end by August 31. Since 23 March 2020, international passenger flights were suspended in India due to the pandemic. But Special flights were operating under the Vande Bharat Mission in May 2020 to bring home Indians stuck in other countries. India also established bilateral air bubbles with selected countries from July 2020.
DGCA further informed that international cargo flights and flights under the bilateral air bubble pacts approved by regulator will continue to operate.
Meanwhile, India formed air bubble pacts with nearly 25 countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, France, Kenya and Bhutan.
The Indian government was considering lifting the restrictions on scheduled international commercial flights on August 31. But as the threat of a third wave of infections looms large, the ban was extended.
This comes after India reported 45,083 fresh cases with 460 fatalities in the last 24 hours. And the number of active cases have also increased to more than 3.6 lakh.
