Amid growing scare over the latest Covid-19 omicron variant, The Indian government has announced to suspend all scheduled international passenger flights till January 31 next year.
According to the aviation regulator DGCA, the recent rise in the number of Covid-19 cases due to the new omicron variant, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) while reversing its earlier order said that it will not go-ahead to resume scheduled international flights from December 15.
The regulator issued a circular on Thursday, saying “The competent authority has decided to extend the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger services to and from India till 2359 hours of January 31, 2022.”
Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020 and under bilateral ‘air bubble' arrangements with selected countries since July 2020.
India has formed air bubble pacts with around 32 countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan, and France. Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.
