India extends international flights suspension till December 31

The Indian government on Thursday extended the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger services till December 31 in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in a notification ‘Travel and Visa restrictions related to COVID-19’, said, “In partial modification of circular dated 26-06-2020, 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 1ST of 31St December, 2020.”

India has entered into air bubble arrangements with multiple countries even though regular international flights remain banned owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international passenger flights can be operated by their airlines into each other’s territories.

Scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, special international passenger flights have been operating in India under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral air bubble arrangements formed between India and other countries since July.