International flights news: After months of waiting, India has finally begun flights to 49 cities under Air Bubble arrangements with 18 countries starting this month. According to the latest notification by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, special international flights can be operated by respective airlines under an air-bubble pact between two countries.
However, the suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has continued till September 30 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
India has formed air-bubble pacts with around 28 countries, including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan, and France.
If a passenger is planning to visit abroad then he/she may check the list of cities with which India has approved the air bubble agreement. Also, passengers need to book tickets to these countries via the Air India website, Air India offices, and travel agents.
As part of the Air-bubble agreement, India resumed flight with Bangladesh on September 3. The other international cities where passengers can travel in September are:
- Afghanistan-Kabul
- Bahrain-Bahrain
- Bangladesh-Dhaka
- Canada-Toronto and Vancouver
- France-Paris
- Germany-Frankfurt
- Japan-Narita
- Kenya-Nairobi
- Kuwait-Kuwait
- Maldives-Male
- Nepal-Kathmandu
- Oman-Muscat
- Russia-Moscow
- Sri Lanka-Colombo
- UAE-Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- UK-London and Birmingham
- USA-Chicago, Washington, Newark, and San Francisco
Amidst the pandemic, Indian airports and airlines have experienced huge financial loss worth Rs 22,400 crore in the financial year 2021. This was due to suspension of flight operations on 23 March due to the the coronavirus pandemic.
As per the ministry, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) also reported a loss in its revenue, from Rs 2,976.17 crore during April-June 2019 to approximately Rs 889 crore during April-June 2021.
Domestic airline operations resumed in May 2020. However, international flights have operated only under the Vande Bharat mission and Air Bubble agreements.
Mean-while, the government at the Centre has extended the suspension of international scheduled commercial passenger flights to and from India till September 30. In a statement issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA, it has been informed that the ban that was scheduled to end on August 31 has been extended further till September 30 now.
The DGCA further said, “However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis.”
