India to allow international flights operations from Dec 15

India will allow resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services from December 15, it was announced on Friday.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation said there will be a calibrated resumption of operations from the countries recognised as "at risk" by the Health Ministry.

Passenger air services were suspended in late March 2020 due to the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19. While domestic flight services resumed from May 25, 2020, international flight services were only maintained via 'Bubble Agreements'.

In a circular issued on Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said: "The matter has been reviewed and the competent authority has decided to resume the scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India with effect from 15 December, 2021.

"Accordingly, the scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India shall remain suspended till 2359 hours IST of 14 December, 2021."

The DGCA circular also said that resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services would imply reversion to bilaterally agreed capacity entitlements and termination of air bubble arrangements. However, it said that due to prevailing Covid-19 situation, the capacity entitlements shall be based on enlistment of countries "at risk" from time to time by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. -IANS