India To Resume Regular International Flights From Mid-December

By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- India will resume regular international air services from mid-December as the country seeks to revive post-pandemic travel. The issue has been reviewed and "the competent authority has decided to resume the scheduled commercial international passenger services" from December 15, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the country's aviation regulator, said on Friday. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, India has operated repatriation flights and "air bubbles" under special arrangements with some countries. The regular airline services on international routes were suspended on March 23 last year to contain the pandemic. The restoration of scheduled air traffic from next month "would imply reversion to bilaterally agreed capacity entitlements and termination of air bubble arrangements," the DGCA said. However, full capacity would not be available immediately to airlines on all routes due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation and Health Ministry rules. -- BERNAMA