New Delhi: The Indian government has withdrawn plans to resume scheduled international flight operations from December 15, five days after it was announced, following the emergence of Omicron coronavirus mutants.
“In view of the evolving global scenario with the emergence of new forms of concern, the situation is being closely observed in consultation with all stakeholders and an appropriate decision indicating the effective date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services is being fixed. The syllabus will be notified in time,” civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a notification on Wednesday.
A copy of the circular has been reviewed by the Mint.
India suspended international flight operations with effect from 23 March 2020. It was periodically extended every month till November 30 before the government announced plans to resume scheduled international flight services on November 26.
Before 26 November, international flights operated between India and other countries under bilateral air bubble agreements.
India currently has air bubble agreements with 30 countries – from Afghanistan and Bangladesh to Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, UAE, UK and US, among others.
“Resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services from 15 December 2021 will mean the end of the bilaterally agreed capacity entitlement and air bubble arrangement. However, due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation, the capacity will be category wise based on the list of eligible countries,” the DGCA said in its November 26 circular.
A senior DGCA official said on condition of anonymity that international flights under air bubble agreements would continue till further notification.
“Bookings (if any) made on scheduled international flights which will resume from December 15 will now have to be rescheduled,” the official said.
Major economies around the world have rushed to take precautionary measures as scientists say they have found a highly virulent and possibly vaccine-resistant version of the Covid-19 virus in South Africa.
The UK said the ‘Omicron’ variant was the most significant yet found, and banned flights from six southern African countries – South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU is also aiming to halt air travel from the region, describing the version as “of concern” in a recent tweet.
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