India on Friday extended the ban on scheduled international passenger flights, announced since the Covid-19 outbreak last year, by another month till May 31.
However, the bilateral air bubble flights will continue to function to and from the territories of 27 countries with whom such arrangements have been agreed upon.
India had suspended scheduled international passenger services since March 23 last year due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
“However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said.
Special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with selected countries since July.
India has formed air bubble pacts with around 27 countries including Kenya, Bhutan and France.
The DGCA circular also said that the suspension does not affect the operation of international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by it.
Many countries including the US, Kuwait, France and Canada have banned flights from India, citing fresh Covid-19 wave and the “double mutant” virus being found in the country.
Iran, Kuwait, Indonesia and UAE are the latest additions to this list of countries that have banned India from their citizens' travel lists.
Australia also suspended all direct passenger flights from India for the next three weeks due to the unprecedented spike in Covis-19 cases.
Britain had suspended flights between April 24 and 30 citing the Covid-19 outbreak but has allowed flights from May 1.
Air India has announced flight schedules from Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru to London from May 1 to May 15.