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Extension! India extended ban on international flights till 31st January

The Directorate General of Aviation has extended ban on commercial international passengers flight till 31st January. Amid concerns over coronavirus variant Omicron, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DCGA) had on December 1 decided not to resume scheduled international flights from December 15,less than a week announcing resume services. The regulator issued a circular saying “The competent authority has decided to extend suspension off scheduled international commercial passengers services to and from India till 2359 hours of Jan21,2022.”


Scheduled international services have been suspended in India since March 23,2020, due to coronavirus pandemic. But special international mission to be operating under Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020 and under Biletral “air bubble” arrangements with selected countries since July 2020.


India had formed air bubble pacts with around 32 countries, including US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France. Under the air bubble pacts between two countries special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.

However, the restrictions will not apply to international all cargo operations and flights specially approved by regulators.International flights may also be allowed on case to case to select routes on a case to case to basis.


The scheduled flights were supposed to start from December 15,but keeping in view the nature of Omicron variant, the government decide to hold the plan till 31st January.

By line : Divya Thearia

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