International flights to resume from December 15: Govt

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Nov 26, 2021: Commercial international flights to and from India will be resumed from December 15, civil aviation ministry said on Friday. The decision was taken after consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

 

Scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23 last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, special international passenger flights have been operating since July last year under air bubble arrangements formed with 31 countries.

In an order, the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated: "The matter of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India has been examined in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and it has been decided that scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India may be resumed from December 15, 2021."

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to resume regular international flight operations, dividing countries into three categories with separate capacity restrictions based on countries recognised as "at risk" by the Ministry of Health.

According to civil aviation ministry guidelines:

    * For countries identified as "not at risk", the resumption will be as per full capacity entitlements. This implies reversion to bilaterally agreed capacity entitlements and termination of air bubble arrangements.

    * For countries that have been identified as "at risk" and India has formalised air bubble arrangements with, resumption will entail 75 per cent of pre-Covid operations of Indian or foreign carrier, whichever is higher subject to a minimum of 7 frequencies per week.

    * For countries which have been identified as "at risk" and India has no air bubble arrangement with, resumption of commercial flight operations will be restricted to 50 per cent of bilateral capacity entitlements or 50 per cent of pre-Covid operations of Indian or foreign carrier, whichever is higher.

As per civil aviation ministry order that India Today TV accessed, if airlines have already sold seats as per the existing air bubble terms and it is in excess of capacity entitlements under bilateral traffic rights available with the airlines, they will be allowed to operate till December 14. But they will have to adhere by the new rules of engagement from December 15.

A number of countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have been pushing for resumption of pre-Covid air services and going back to the ‘Air Services’ agreement from the current ‘Air Bubble’ agreement which is leading to increase in fare prices and unavailability of seats because flights are not running on full capacity.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, UAE envoy to India Ambassador Ahmed Albanna said, “We understand the situation and limitations of India. But India is planning on opening up. Hope to see double the number of air services and increase in capacity under our normal air Service agreement. Covid-19 situation and the different protocols that apply, sometimes become a barrier.”

CONCERNS OVER B.1.1.529 VARIANT

Earlier, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had raised concern over the B.1.1.529 variant of the novel coronavirus, detected recently by scientists in South Africa.

In a letter to the states and the Union Territories, Rajesh Bhushan wrote, "This variant is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations, and thus, has serious public health implications for the country, in view of recently relaxed visa restrictions and opening up of international travel."

Confirmed cases of the new variant have been reported from Botswana, South Africa, and Hong Kong.
In his letter to all states and UTs, the Union Health Secretary said that all international travellers entering India from "at-risk" countries must be subjected to rigorous screening and testing.

Courtesy:India Today