Christmas may arrive 10 days early for Indian globetrotters. According to sources, the government is likely to allow scheduled international flights from December 15, but only from countries where the Covid situation is under control.
Flights to and from almost 14 countries that are witnessing resurgence in Covid cases are likely to continue as per current air bubble agreements, sources said. This may include EU and a few other places where a new Covid variant has been detected.
Earlier this week, the government had said scheduled international flights could resume by the year-end.
The Centre has weighed in the Covid situation very carefully before deciding on resumption of scheduled international flights, that were suspended in March 2020.
Since last summer, international flights operate under air bubbles India has so far created with 31 countries. However, the limited capacity has led to exorbitant international fares.
On peak travel days now, one-way ticket often costs more than pre-pandemic return fares.
International fares for this Christmas-New Year are extremely high.
The tourism industry has been requesting the government to open international flights to countries where Covid is in control and which mutually accept and recognise Indian vaccines and certification.
