New Delhi: The ban on abroad flight operations has been extended until February 28, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Thursday. “The restrictions shall not apply to abroad all-cargo operations and flights particularly approved by DGCA,” the aviation regulator mentioned in around.
The ban on international flights was announced in June last yr to test the transmission of the coronavirus. Over the months, the center, which is the highest executive authority in matters related to the pandemic, has eased restrictions in many of the fields of the economy however not international flight operations.
“However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis,” the regulator added.
The centre had allowed domestic flight operations last yr.
“2,73,845 passengers on 2,179 flights yesterday is a new high since domestic flights resumed on 25 May 2020. This takes us even closer to the pre-COVID numbers. Flying has emerged because the chosen mode of transport which offers efficiency, safety, and predictability,” Union Minister Hardeep Puri tweeted earlier this month.
The center has last yr banned flights to and from the UK over the discovery of a more contagious strain of the virus.
The ban was later revoked.
The center today mentioned it has curbed a rise in COVID-19 infections, with a fifth of its districts reporting no new cases for a week. “India has successfully contained the pandemic,” Health Minister Harsh Vardhan mentioned, noting that fewer than 12,000 cases were reported in the past 24 hours.
“India has flattened its COVID-19 graph,” he added.
