After 2 Years, Regular International Flights Likely to Resume from March 15

The ban on scheduled international passenger flights in India is in effect till February 28.

New Delhi: After a gap of almost two years, all regular international flights are likely to resume within a month and will follow the standard operating procedures effective at Indian airports for foreign arrivals and departure, as per information provided by government sources on Monday. Keeping in mind the consistent decline in Covid-19 cases, the Civil Aviation Ministry following consultation with the Health Ministry has taken a decision on resuming scheduled international flights and is looking at a tentative date of March 15 or the end of next month when the summer schedule kicks in. However, no official announcement has been made by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation so far.

“Regular International flights is likely to resume from March 15. The Guidelines for International Arrivals, which came into effect from February 14, will be followed at airports for the passengers of these flights,” an official source said.

The ban on scheduled international passenger flights in India is in effect till February 28. Such flights have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Special passenger flights have been functioning between India and around 40 countries since July 2020 under air bubble arrangements.

The Health Ministry has issued revised guidelines for international arrivals, with effect from February 14, doing away with the mandatory seven-day home quarantine and the need for them to undertake an RT-PCR test on the eighth day.

Apart from uploading a negative RT-PCR report, taken 72 hours before the journey, there is an option to upload certificates of the completion of the full primary Covid vaccination schedule provided from countries on a reciprocal basis. Also, the demarcation of countries ‘at-risk’ and other countries has been removed.

Accordingly, the need for giving samples on the port of arrival and waiting till the result is obtained from countries at-risk has been dispensed with.