NEW DELHI: The government has extended suspension of scheduled
international flights
till May 31, 2021. However
Vande Bharat Mission
and scheduled flights under the travel bubbles India has so far created — which are currently not suspended by other countries — will continue and people eligible as per government norms can fly to and from India on them.
Scheduled international flights were suspended on March 23, 2020, and the severity of the pandemic has meant that even after nearly 14 months there is no sign of the same resuming anytime in a hurry.
The
Directorate General of Civil Aviation
(
DGCA
) issued an order Friday extending the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India till 11.59 pm (India time) of May 31, 2021.
“This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA,” the order says. It adds that “international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis.”
In the last one year, India has been operating Vande Bharat Mission flights to many places and has so far formed air bubbles with some countries. During the second surge, about 20 countries have in last 10 days imposed restrictions like flight suspensions from India or stricter entry norms for travellers from here.