India’s aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on Friday, issued a circular extending the ban on international commercial flights till July 15. This extension of restrictions will not affect cargo or other flights approved by the DGGA, the circular stated.
The DGCA decision comes in the backdrop of an unrelenting increase in corona virus cases in the country with the graded reopening of the nationwide lock down.
Domestic flights in the country restarted on May 25 but international flights remained suspended barring cargo and special repatriation flights under the government’s ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ to bring stranded Indians back home.
Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri earlier this month stated that the government is mulling opening up of India’s skies for travel to and from the country.
In a tweet, the minister had said, “Destination countries have to be ready to allow incoming flights.” He further said, “Due to increasing demand for resumption of scheduled international flights by people who want to travel abroad due to compelling reasons, I reviewed the state of international flight operations around the world. Globally the situation is far from normal.” He shared how most countries have less than 10% international operations because they are allowing entry only to their own citizens & have placed restrictions on foreign nationals. “Many are allowing inbound flights from few countries but have also placed restrictions of quarantine/isolation,” Puri added.
