Suspension of International flights extended till July 15, says DGCA

The aviation regulator DGCA said on Friday (June 26) it is extending the suspension of scheduled international passenger flights in the country till July 15 but added that some international scheduled services on selected routes may be permitted on a case-to-case basis.

Scheduled international passenger flights were suspended in India on March 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The competent authority has decided that scheduled international commercial passenger services to or from India shall remain suspended till 2359 hrs IST of July 15, 2020,” said the DGCA circular.

“However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case to case basis,” said the circular by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Air India and other private domestic airlines have been operating unscheduled international repatriation flights under the Vande Bharat Mission, which was started on May 6 by the Central government.

India resumed scheduled domestic passenger flights on May 25, after a gap of two months.

Related news: Int’l flights to resume once countries ease foreigner entry restrictions: Puri

Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India will take a decision on resumption of international passenger flights as soon as countries ease restrictions on entry of foreign nationals.

Countries like Japan and Singapore have put significant restrictions on entry of foreigners amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“A decision to resume regular international operations will be taken as soon as countries ease restrictions on entry of foreign nationals. Destination countries have to be ready to allow incoming flights,” Puri said on Twitter.

“I am often asked, when can you start international civil aviation? If you leave it to me, and if the ecosystem works, and if we have the predictability in terms of behaviour of the virus, I think in the coming month we should start taking the decision. But those decisions will not be taken by the Indian civil aviation ministry. Those decisions will be taken by the governments after looking at their domestic situation,” Puri said last week.

(With inputs from agencies)