International Flights In India To Begin Operations On Two Conditions

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has recently declared two conditions owing to which international flight operations might resume in the country. Firstly, it will depend on the opening up of international traffic by other countries. Secondly, the traffic of domestic flights must reach at least 50 percent. India had suspended all flights after March 25. 2020, due to the coronavirus lockdown. Domestic flights have resumed services from May 25 in a calibrated manner.

‘International Flights To Begin Operations When Domestic Traffic Reaches 50 Percent’

The Centre has allowed domestic flights to operate in the country with one-third of the total capacity. As per sources, Indian airports used to handle around 3000 domestic flights daily, before lockdown. Now, the airlines are adhering to the guidelines issued by the Airport Authority of India ( AAI). Taking to Twitter, the aviation minister has stated, “We can start regular international flights when our domestic traffic reaches about 50 to 60 percent and other countries open up to international traffic without present conditionalities. Once the situation evolves in that direction we will consider a calibrated opening.”

We can start regular international flights when our domestic traffic reaches about 50-60% & other countries open up to international traffic without present conditionalities.

Once the situation evolves in that direction we will consider a calibrated opening.@MoCA_GoI

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 20, 2020

The Ministry of Home Affairs( MHA) had also come up with a list of special categories of foreigners, including those holding OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cards, who can enter India from abroad.

International Flights — Picture Credits: Twitter

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What Else?

The Indian government had launched a special evacuation mission earlier, known as the Vande Bharat Mission. Under this mission, around 158 flights brought back the stranded Indians from foreign countries, starting operations from 7th May. Initially, the count of flights was decided to be 64. Later, the airline authorities had to increase the fleet count to repatriate more than 30,000 Indians.