International Flights Allowed From 15 December, Flights From At Risk Countries Limited

In the recent announcement on Friday, India has resumed the regular international flights starting on the 15th of December, 2021, and has restricted services to and from 11 countries plus Europe and the UK which are deemed as at risk from COVID- 19 virus infections. Flyopedia says that US to India flights, which will be operating still, are available for booking online tickets at amazing deals.

As seen by Flyopedia, the Government Order announced by the Centre said that “Full flights will be resumed for countries identified to be not at risk.” For the at-risk countries, it further added that “about 75% of pre- COVID19 operations will be allowed for countries if they are among countries India has bubble arrangements with, and 50% of pre- COVID19 for countries with which India has not signed bubble arrangements.”

From those on the list of at-risk countries, India has made bubble flight arrangements with the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland in Europe, Israel, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Out of them, India does not have any such arrangements with South Africa, Brazil, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

The list of at-risk countries was decided by the Health Ministry of India based on the number of COVID19 infections in those particular countries. International regular and last-minute flights to India were stopped on 23rd March 2020 as the pandemic ensued in full.

India later began Vande Bharat repatriation flights, which were soon followed by bilateral bubble services. The order also said that the existing bubble arrangements will be discontinued as overseas services resume. The situation of resuming international flights was pushed forward by Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has also relaxed pandemic-related capacity and fare curbs since taking over the portfolio. While the industry remains of a divided opinion on this matter of resuming overseas flights, it is of absolutely no doubt that this move will give a much-needed impetus to the travel and tourism sector, according to Flyopedia travel experts.

According to Gaurav Bhatia, the executive director of Bird Group, “this will give relief to passengers traveling to countries where international flights are resuming by arresting high fares. Doing this in phases will also help keep the virus spread in check as a few European countries have reported fresh cases of coronavirus,”

The resuming of flights, which includes US to Delhi flights, is ensured to offer more options and fewer fares. Though Indian airlines may not be able to match the rivals overseas when it comes to restarting overseas services, “this opening would mean giving away our traffic to Gulf as well as Southeast Asian carriers and further impacting the revival of Indian carriers,” as reported by an anonymous airline executive.

India is now allowing a limited number of flights with 32 countries under the current bubble arrangements. These airlines are only allowed to carry the passengers to their home bases. However, due to the emergence of the new COVID19 variant found in southern Africa, the world of air travel has been disrupted once again.

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