The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly served its biggest blow to the travel industry with numerous restrictions on international flights, minimal footfall of tourists and partially or fully sealed borders.But it seems to come to an end now as regular international flights might resume from March this year.
For the uninitiated, scheduled international passenger flights in India had been suspended since March 2020 owing to the pandemic and the ban on these flights is in effect till February 28.?Special passenger flights have been functioning between India and around 40 countries since July 2020 under air bubble arrangements.
According to PTI, the Indian government is planning to resume regular international flights from March 15. However, it also emphasised that the standard operating procedures that are being followed at the airport for international flights will be complied with even after the regular international flights resumes.
¡°Regular International flights is likely to resume from 15 March. The Guidelines for International Arrivals, which came into effect from 14 February, will be followed at airports for the passengers of these flights,¡± an official source was quoted saying.
However, an official announcement is yet to be made by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Earlier, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had issued new guidelines for international arrivals in India.?
As per the current guidelines, the passengers are not required to present the mandatory 72-hour RT-PCR report. Instead, they can show the full vaccination certificate. Besides, the passengers do not have to undergo the 7-day quarantine post arriving in India.
Also, the demarcation of countries 'at-risk' and other countries has been removed.Accordingly, the need for giving samples on the port of arrival and waiting till the result is obtained from countries ¡®at-risk¡¯ has been dispensed with.
This comes as India reported 16,051 new Covid-19 cases and 206 fatalities in the 24 hours ending on Monday morning, according to the Union health ministry.
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