Restrictions on international flights to India extended till 31 December

New Delhi: The government of India has passed a new order to extend the International flight ban till 31 December.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that only selected flights shall be allowed on case-to-case basis.

The notification titled "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 to 31st December, 2020."

However, the restriction is not applicable to international all-cargo operations and flights and International Scheduled flights on selected routes on case-to-case basis.

Earlier this month, the DGCA had extended the ban on scheduled international passenger flights till November 30.

Anyone who wants to travel to foreign countries will have to depend on air bubble arrangements.

Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between territories.

As of now, India maintains air bubble pacts with 22 countries- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Maldives, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Tanzania, the UAE, the UK, Ukraine and the US.

India has been operating special international flights under the Vande Bharat Mission since May this year.

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