The international scheduled commercial flight operations will remain suspended till September 30, 2020, as per the latest order by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
The DGCA through a circular issued on August 31 extended the validity of the circular issued on June 26 on the subject of scheduled international commercial passenger services to and from India till September 30 with partial modifications.
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) August 31, 2020
DGCA's June 26 circular
The DGCA's June 26 circular had read that all scheduled international commercial passenger services to and from India will remain suspended till July 15, 2020. The circular, however, stated that international flights will be allowed on select routes by the concerned authority on case to case basis.
The latest DGCA circular also reads that international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis.
Exemptions
The restriction on the operation of the international scheduled flights will not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the Director General of Civil Aviation.
Background
All scheduled international commercial flight operations were suspended on March 22, 2020, when Janata Curfew was announced to contain the spread of coronavirus. The flights have remained suspended ever since due to the pandemic.
However, the Union Government had launched repatriation flights under Vande Bharat Mission on May 6, 2020 to bring back stranded Indians from foreign nations. The mission is now regarded as one of the largest citizen repatriation programmes undertaken by any nation to evacuate its stranded citizens.
India signs 'Air Bubble' agreements
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry had announced the partial resumption of international flights to select destinations on July 16 through the medium of 'air bubble' agreements. Under the 'air bubble' agreement, both the signatory countries can operate to and fro flights with certain restrictions.
India has set up air bubbles with few nations including the UK, US, France, Germany, Qatar, Maldives and the UAE. The nation is also negotiating similar air bubble agreements with 13 other nations.
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