NEW DELHI, Feb 28: The centre on Monday indefinitely extended the suspension of the scheduled international passenger flights which have stopped operating since March 23, 2020, in the wake of Covid pandemic and the resultant lockdown in the country.
The aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said the suspension of the scheduled international passenger flights due to expire on Monday had been extended “till further orders.” It, however, would no impact the special passenger flights operating between India and around 45 countries since July 2020 under air bubble arrangements formed with them, international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA, it mentioned. Fights under air bubble arrangement would also not be affected, the circular said.
In a circular on Monday, the DGCA stated: “The competent authority has decided to extend the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India till further orders.”
The DGCA had on November 26, 2021, announced that India will resume scheduled international passenger flights from December 15, 2021. Just a day later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DGCA to review its decision in wake of rising concerns over the COVID-19 variant Omicron. On December 1, 2021, the DGCA revoked its November 26 decision without saying how long the suspension of scheduled international flights would continue.
(Manas Dasgupta)
