DGCA extends international passenger flights suspension till May 31 amid COVID-19 surge
The suspension of international commercial flights comes as India continues to face the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
FollowNew Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday extended the suspension on international flights from and to India till May 31 in view of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, during which the country has been reporting more than 300,000 Covid-19 cases daily for over a week now.
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.
“...the competent authority has further extended the validity of circular issued on the subject cited above regarding Scheduled International commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hrs IST of 31 May, 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.”
Many countries including the US, UK, Kuwait, France and Canada have banned flights from India, citing Covid-19 cases and the "double mutant" virus being found in the country. Iran, Kuwait, Indonesia and UAE are the latest additions to this list of countries that have banned India from their citizens' travel lists.
The suspension of international commercial flights comes as India continues to face the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
India recorded 3,86,452 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday and 3,498 deaths, the health ministry data showed. A record 2,97,540 passengers were also discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, the health ministry data shows.
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