Good news for foreign travellers, India to resume International flights from March 27 after two-year hiatus

While scheduled international flight services were suspended since March 23, 2020, special flights have been operating between India and 37 countries since July 2020.

In a major development for air travel, centre has decided to resume scheduled international flight services in India from March 27. The services will resume after a two-year hiatus following a decline in coronavirus cases in the country. Govt had suspended the scheduled international flight services since March 23, 2020 after the first wave and started to operate flights under Air Bubble agreements and Vande Bharat Mission from July 2020 onwards.

India currently has an agreement 37 countries under air bubble arrangements. An air bubble is a special bridge between two countries to provide seamless travel to the flyers in situations like pandemics or war. Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "After deliberation with stakeholders and keeping in view the decline in the COVID-19 caseload, we have decided to resume international travel from March 27 onwards."

Amitabh Khosla, India Country Director, IATA, "We welcome the announcement by the Government of India to normalize international scheduled air services from 27 March 2022. This will support the recovery of the aviation and travel sectors, the economy as a whole, and satisfy the demand for air travel."

"As a next step, we urge the government to consider extending the relaxation in rules for international travel, to passengers from all remaining countries as well. This will allow India to maximize the benefits that aviation can bring to the economy," her further added.

In a statement, the MoCA said that international operations from March 27 will be subject to strict adherence to Union health ministry guidelines that were issued on February 10. "After having recognised the increased vaccination coverage across the globe and in consultation with stakeholders, the Government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India from March 27, 2022, i.E. Start of summer schedule 2022," it said.

The suspension of scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India, thus, stands extended only up to 23:59 hrs (Indian standard time) on March 26, 2022, and air bubble arrangements shall accordingly be extended to this extent only, the MoCA said. 

With inputs from PTI

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