New Delhi, Nov 26: India is set to allow scheduled commercial international flights from December 15, after almost 20 months of suspension in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
Countries have been divided into three categories with separate capacity restrictions for resumption of flights.
Full capacity would be allowed with countries classified as “not at risk” by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
“The matter of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India has been examined in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and it has been decided that scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India may be resumed from 15.12.2021,” Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a communication to aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on November 26.
The Ministry said that resumption of international flights would imply reversion to bilaterally agreed capacity entitlements and termination of air bubble arrangements.
Air bubble is temporary arrangement between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services when regular international flights are suspended.
“The seats under air bubble arrangement which have already been sold by airlines, which are in excess of capacity entitlements under bilateral ASAs/traffic rights available with the airlines, will be allowed to be operated till 14.12.2021,” the Aviation Ministry said.
