India may extend temporary suspension of UK flights

NEW DELHI : The Indian government is likely to extend the temporary suspension of flights to and from the UK beyond 31 December. The suspension of flights was announced last week to prevent the spread of the new strain of the coronavirus that was detected in the UK and is considered to be 70% more infectious.

“I foresee—I am not making an announcement—a slight extension of the temporary suspension. I don’t expect that extension to be long or indefinite,” civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said during a press conference on Tuesday.

“Once we have the genome sequence completed, it will give us the full picture and confidence to open up flight services again,” he added.