The coronavirus-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till 11:59 pm on February 28, 2021 aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Thursday, January 28.
However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis, the DGCA added. Besides, this restriction will not apply to international all-cargo operations.
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) January 28, 2021
Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral "air bubble" arrangements with selected countries since July. India has formed air bubble pacts with around 24 countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic continues to be felt on the Indian aviation sector as the regulator said that a total of 6.3 crore domestic passengers travelled by air last year, 56.29 per cent lower than 2019, DGCA said earlier.
A day before, the DGCA had extended the restriction on flights between India and UK up to midnight of February 14, 2021, to contain the spread of a mutant COVID-19 strain which was recently discovered in the UK. Last month, several countries, including India, had suspended flight operations to the UK in the wake of the new mutant COVID-19 strain, which is more deadly and spreads more easily.
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