Scheduled int'l flights suspended till July 31; some may be allowed
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday extended the suspension of scheduled international flights in the country till July 31, though it said some scheduled international services on selected routes may be permitted on a case to case basis.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Friday (July 3) extended the suspension of scheduled international flights in the country till July 31, though it said some scheduled international services on selected routes may be permitted on a case to case basis.
Both domestic and international passenger flights were suspended in the country on March 23 in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, a day before the announcement of the nationwide lockdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On June 26, the aviation regulator had stated that scheduled international passenger flights will remain suspended till July 15, 2020. Modifying the circular, the DGCA stated today that it has decided to extended the deadline till July-end.
“However, some international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case to case basis,” said the DGCA circular.
India is in talks with the US, Canada and countries in the European and the Gulf regions to establish “individual bilateral bubbles” which will allow airlines of each country in the pact to operate international flights, said Airports Authority of India chairperson Arvind Singh on Thursday.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) had on June 23 said India is considering establishing “individual bilateral bubbles” with the US, the UK, Germany and France.
Related news:Â COVID-19: DGCA asks airlines to operate with vacant middle seats
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had on June 20 said that the government will start thinking on the resumption of scheduled international passenger flights in mid-July, when it expects the domestic air traffic to reach 50-55 per cent of the levels before the coronavirus.
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. However, it had allowed the airlines to operate a maximum 33 per cent of their pre-COVID flights. The MoCA increased the limits on June 26 from 33 per cent to 45 per cent.
(With inputs from agencies)
