Given the uncontrollable rise in COVID-19 cases, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the ban on scheduled international flights to and from India till May 31, 2021. The DGCA took to Twitter and made the announcement by sharing a circular. But the circular also mentioned the following:
“However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case to case basis”. Though this ban will not be applicable to international all-cargo operations and flights approved by the aviation regulator.
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) April 30, 2021
On March 23, 2020, all the scheduled international passenger services were suspended in India due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, some special flights were given permission to operate under the
Vande Bharat Mission from May 2020. Several air bubble arrangements were created between countries to ease the evacuation process.
Things were easing gradually but a new strain was found that was much more dangerous and contagious. So once again, DGCA had to ban all the scheduled international commercial passenger flight services to and from India till May 31, 2021.