Concern over new strain: India stops UK flights until Dec 31; labs scramble to crack virus code
As concern mounted over a new, possibly more transmissible, strain of the novel coronavirus in the United Kingdom, India on Monday announced it was suspending flights from and to that country until the end of the year.
The suspension will come into effect on Wednesday — after 11.59 pm on Tuesday (December 22) — and will be in place until 11.59 pm on December 31.
At least 60 flights between India and the UK during this period are cancelled. Indian carriers on Monday advanced departures to and from London by several hours to ensure they complete flights by the 11.59 pm deadline on Tuesday.
About two dozen other jurisdictions too have suspended passenger air traffic from and to the UK.
