India to resume international flights from March 27

The services of all international passenger flights will resume , Indian Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia informed.

The Minister made the announcement during Question Hour as the Upper House assembled for its second part of the Budget Session after one month's break.

"All regular international flights will operate in 100 per cent capacity by March 27 as the coronavirus situation in India has improved now," Scindia said.

The government had banned all international scheduled flights for a week starting March 23, 2020. The ban stretched for nearly two years in the midst of a raging pandemic.

However, special international flights have been operating between India and about 35 other countries since July 2020 under the air bubble.

The move is expected to boost international tourism and will help soften airfares' which have been soaring due to an increase in crude oil prices.

While the government had earlier planned to resume international flights on March 15, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which necessitated relief flights to bring back stranded Indians in Ukraine, delayed the process.

Ministry of Civil Aviation recently also announced, "after having recognised the increased vaccination coverage across the globe and in consultation with the stakeholders, the Government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India from March 27".

(ANI)