On Thursday, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed that the ban on international flight operations has been extended till February 28. In a circular, the aviation regulator said that these restrictions will not be applicable to international all-cargo operations and flights.
To contain the tramission of the highly contagious virus, In the month of June last year the ban on international flights was announced. In order to start the economy, the centre has eased restriction on most of the sectors and fields. However, those on international flight operations has not been eased.
International Scheduled Flights Allowed On Selected Routes:-
The regulator added that on a case-to-case basis, some international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes. On the other hand, last year domestic flight operations were allowed by the centre.
The center had allowed domestic flight operations last year.
Earlier this month, Hardeep Puri, Union Minister said in his tweet that since the flights resumed on 25 May last year, a new high of 2,73,845 passengers on 2,179 flights has been achieved yesterday. People are choosing flight as a mode of transport due to efficiency, safety and predictability.
The flights to and from efficiency, safety and predictability were banned by the centre in the light of a more contagious strain of the virus. This ban was later revoked.
With no new cases for over a week now in one-fifth of its districts, centre said that an increase in the coronavirus has been curbed successfully by them. In the past 24 hours, fewer cases than 12000 were reported said Health Minister Harsh Vardhan. He also added that India has flattened its COVID-19 graph.
On May 26, centre in order to help people who are stranded overseas due to the novel coronavirus pandemic started ‘Vande Bharat Mission’. This mission would help such individuals to reach their respective places through international repatriation flights.
Till January 27, over 20.56 lakh passengers were carried in total of 15,241 repatriation flights under the Vande Bharat Mission operated by the Air India Group. According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, out of these 7,623 were outbound flights with 8.3 lakh fliers and 7,618 were inbound flights carrying 12.25 lakh passengers.
According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, 15,241 repatriation flights were operated by the Air India Group under the Vande Bharat Mission till January 27, carrying over 20.56 lakh passengers. Of these, 7,618 were inbound flights carrying 12.25 lakh passengers and 7,623 were outbound flights with 8.3 lakh fliers.
The mission will continue until March 28, 2021, is currently in Phase 8
Here is the repatriation international flights schedule for January 29:
Air India repatriation schedule for January 29: Ex-India to foreign stations (in local time)
> AI 0346: Chennai (1.30) to Singapore
> AI 1901: Delhi (10.00) to Kuwait
Air India repatriation schedule for January 29: Ex-foreign stations to India (in local time)
> AI 0122: Rome to Delhi (8.00)> AI 1902: Kuwait to Lucknow (19.40) > AI 0347: Singapore to Chennai (11.15)