India to resume international flights from March 27

India on Tuesday announced lifting of the ban on international air travel from March 27, two years after the suspension of services following Covid-19 pandemic.

This was announced by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia after a review of the Covid-19 situation with stakeholders.

"After deliberation with stakeholders and keeping in view the decline in the Covid-19 caseload, we have decided to resume international travel from March 27 onwards. Air bubble arrangements will also stand revoked thereafter. With this step, I am confident the sector will reach new heights!" Scindia tweeted.

This would bring cheers to the aviation industry in the country whose losses were mounting following the disruption in the services owing to the pandemic.

Responding to the government's announcement, IndiGo Whole Time Director and Chief Executive Officer Ronojoy Dutta said the decision would provide impetus to the economic recovery for the sector and the nation, with borders opening for tourists.

"We look forward to connecting our customers to the people and places they love. We will soon be announcing the schedule for our international destinations, in accordance with these new guidelines," he said.

ICRA had said that losses in the aviation industry could ease in the next fiscal with the possible opening of international operations and easing of Covid-19 situation.

In a statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that the international operations from March 27 will be subject to strict adherence to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued on February 10.

"After having recognised the increased vaccination coverage across the globe and in consultation with stakeholders, the Government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India from March 27, 2022, i.e. start of summer schedule 2022," it said.

The suspension of scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India, thus, stands extended only up to 23:59 hrs (Indian standard time) on March 26, 2022, and air bubble arrangements shall accordingly be extended to this extent only, it said.

On November 26 last year, the government had announced the resumption of international air travel from December 15 but concerns over the Covid-19 variant Omicron forced it to defer it.

Since July 2020, the international flights were allowed to operate under air bubble arrangements with 37 countries but no full-scale operations were there since March 23, 2020. Under the air bubble arrangement between two countries, airlines of each country are allowed to operate a limited number of international flights with specific restrictions.

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