India resumes international flights today

After a two-year halt, India has resumed regular international flights from today.

India had suspended the international flights since March 2020, due to the COVID pandemic.

A total of 60 foreign airlines of 40 countries including Mauritius, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America, Iraq and others have been given the approval to operate 1783 frequencies to/from India during Summer Schedule 2022, media reports said, citing an order by aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

According to the order, Scheduled Foreign Carriers have applied for approval of their international schedule. The Summer Schedule 2022 is effective from March 27, 2022, till October 29 this year.

A total of 1,466 international departures per week have been approved for six Indian carriers for the summer schedule. They will operate to 43 destinations in 27 countries.

The government has also relaxed Covid guidelines for international flight operations. Crew members are no longer required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and security personnel can resume pat-down search of passengers at airports, wherever needed. Airlines are also not required to keep three seats vacant on international flights for medical emergencies.