However, schedule flights under the travel bubble India has started creating with several countries like the US, UK, Germany, and France will be allowed and people eligible as per government norms can fly to and from India on them.
“ … the competent authority has decided to extend (suspension of scheduled international passenger flights to/from India) till 11.59 pm of September 30, 2020. This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation,” the DGCA said in a statement Monday.
“However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case to case basis,” it added. India has so far created air bubbles with the USA, UK, France, Germany, UAE, Qatar, and Maldives. India is in talks with many more countries to create air bubbles like Australia, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Bahrain, Israel, Kenya, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. The idea of these bubbles is to ensure continuity of travel between India and these countries by eligible categories of people till schedule flights resume.
Scheduled international passenger services continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The aviation ministry has long maintained that the resumption of scheduled International flights will be considered once domestic flights reach the 50% mark of the originally approved summer schedule.
Scheduled domestic flights were allowed to resume after a two-month suspension on May 25 and so far airlines are operating about 35% of the summer schedule. They have been allowed to raise the capacity to 45% till November 24 — something that may be relaxed depending on how the pandemic situations pan out and if states relax their caps on flight operations.
Meanwhile, special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral air bubble arrangements with other countries since July.
The circular said the suspension does not affect the operation of international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA.
On August 30, 6,023 Indians returned from abroad, the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted, “Vande Bharat Mission continues to fly high and reach out to stranded Indian citizens across the world. More than 14 lakh people return and fly out on flights under the mission, domestic and foreign charters, land border crossings and navy vessels, etc. The mission continues…”
Also read: Unlock 4.0 guidelines: What’s new, what remains same
