Covid-19 travel: India extends international flights ban until January 31, 2022

The Indian civil aviation regulator on Thursday extended the ban on international commercial passenger services until January 31, 2022.

However, the restrictions will not be applicable to cargo flights and those approved by the regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

All scheduled international flights to and from India were banned from March 2020 following the Covid-19 pandemic.

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However, the statement by DGCA mentions that scheduled international flights will be allowed on selected routes.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has signed bilateral air bubble agreements with several countries.

India has formed air bubble pacts with around 25 countries, including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France.

Rules stipulate that those special international flights can be operated by their airlines following an air bubble pact between two countries, irrespective of the travel ban, which initially came into place on March 22, 2020.

• India