Scheduled international flight suspension extended till February 28

NEW DELHI: The government has extended suspension of scheduled international flights till February 28, 2021. However Vande Bharat Mission and scheduled flights under the travel bubbles India has so far created with 24 countries like US, Germany and France will continue and people eligible as per government norms can fly to and from India on them.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an order Thursday extending the suspension of scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India till 11.59 pm (IST) of February 28, 2021. “This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA,” the order says. It adds that “international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis.”
Scheduled international flights were suspended on March 23, 2020, due to the pandemic. Since then, India has been operating Vande Bharat Mission flights to many places and has formed air bubbles with over 20 countries. International air travel is happening on both VBM and air bubble arrangements for allowed categories of travellers. All-cargo international flights are allowed and the DGCA approves flights on a case-to-case basis.