In March 2020, it became apparent that international flights in India will not operate anytime soon. Since then, Air India has been operating repatriation flights, and the Government of India has stitched up Air Bubbles with various countries. Non-stop flights are only permitted to these countries at the moment.
A new order was passed by the Government of India a few months ago as a part of their plan to open up the lockdown. The new order notifies that international air travel opening up will be decided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in consultation with India’s Ministry of Home Affairs.
This is a change in tonality and gave many people hoped that international flights would be immediately opened. Not happening so soon, I say.
Given the raging pandemic in India itself over the past two months or so, India has been shut down by over 20 countries, including Canada, UK, UAE, Kuwait, Maldives, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Oman. The USA had notified US Citizens to leave India as soon as possible.
At the moment, India has ‘Air Bubble’ Agreements with 27 nations and certain other Vande Bharat flights. I gather this to clarify to the other airlines operating in India about how long they should not be planning operations to India. The really bad news is, the decision is postponed, and there is no final timeline for opening up Commercial international aviation, and it could go on longer.
The DGCA has now put up a notification further extending the ban till June 2021. The Air Bubble flights and Vande Bharat flights are excluded from this notification.
I have been continuously bemused at this notification coming out every month end like clockwork, which shows the lack of planning and foresight, or the humility to accept the situation as it is on the ground for now. India is now in the second wave, and many states are already talking of a third wave. So I don’t see we will ride out of this and open up to international travel anytime soon till we get a large part of our people vaccinated. That means a good 5-6 months before things change. Why not just pass an order for six months so that airlines which cannot operate in India in the period move on and use their resources better in other countries.
Bottomline
India has once again extended its air travel ban by a month rather than by a longer timeframe. This means regular commercial air travel is off limits till June 30, 2021. On the other hand, many countries have decided they don’t want to have anyone travel from India because of the rising cases in this country.
What do you make of this International Flight India ban?
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Please boss open flights for beirut very very very need this job depand my family this job
This job I not going so my family very big problem
Please boss open flights for uganada Kampala I very very very need this job depand my family this jod
This job I not going so my family very big problem
What’s the point in getting the vaccine if we’re still treated like we didn’t get it.? Anyone that’s been vaccinated should be able to fly wherever they want. As long as we show proof that we’re vaccinated fully, we shouldn’t be under the same rules as non vaccinated people! If you choose not to get the vaccine, that is your right but you’ll be banned from international flights. If the reason for the ban is because of covid, those of us that have been fully vaccinated shouldn’t be included in the ban because we can’t get covid and we want our freedom to travel!
@Vaccinated Traveler, calm down man and get your facts right. Covid vaccines don’t assure that you get Covid, but they do save you from dying of covid 19. And just because you got the vaccine does not mean other countries should make you a priority. My 2 cents.
Relevant demand govt.should give thought with positive vibes,..
Om shanti…
Yes After vaccination why I can’t travel?? It’s need for many of Indian working abrod but after vaccination if they can’t travel it’s hudge problem . I also doing job in abrod but after vaccination I can’t go please start the flights it’s need for me also and hopefully who are working in abrod it’s also
Please open up flights to get outta there in Mumbai ! My goodness ! My fiancé needs to come back to USA and he has a son with a heart problem that he can’t even help :-(. So many are stuck there like a prison where they don’t live !!! Good grief !!
@Jax if your fiance is a US citizen or one of the exception list issued by the State Department, he can still fly back to the US.
As it was declared that the international flight ban will be up to June 2021 when we are now near end of ban period at-least the situation should be clear so that everyone can plan their travel dates…
@Mohammed, don’t make any plans yet. This will most probably be extended again, and again, and again.
Sir plz open de flight
Pls open the flights as much as possible my visa will finish next month pls i dont want to loose my job pls
Hell sir good afternoon sir, when international flight are opening please sir maybe long time we are waiting for the this.
Plz open this flight I very need to job UAE
Indian politicians are utilizing this situation to save Indian airlines. And current situation India is in today due to bad planning of handling covid.
I’m a student ….I want travel to Ukraine bcoz I lose my study I have visa nd all docoment so plz with request
Please open the flight as fast soon, because I want go t,o work ,I am only person earning in this family, please I am working in UAE pass. 6 yrs
Please…. Please…. Please open the UAE flights…. I don’t want to loose my job… I have a child to feed and pay for her education…. My things are there in the room with no1. I need to pay my rents… Please. Its causing problems fo all the anglis tue to this ban… For god sake, please open the flights.
It seems Govt of all countries are not supporting those who all are holding Resident / Employment Visas of different countries.
How can we travel back & resume to our duties who have come to India for reasons that either some of their family member had expired / came for Business Trip / Have to return back after vacation & other different reasons to travel back.
In this time of Pandemic there is No support to Human beings on Humitarian grounds / sympathy / morality.
Irrespective of Flights being closed Companies are not paying salaries to employees those who are not able to reach back to their duties.
Everything is Commercialised even in these days of punishment from GOD to this world.
Support HUMAN BEINGD
My sincere request to India as well as UAE govt.to think of those outbound passengers (already vaccinated atleast)who are badly stuck and facing problems like Job threat among others and evacuate them ASAP.
I got the Job in Kampala, hence I supposed to be there from India in May month.
Unfortunately ban on international flights came in force due to which I was not able to go there, moreover this ban has been extended.
Please advice me what to do in that case.
Please reply.
UAE should allow people who are vaccinated and let them work in the country…….. since my booked flight was cancelled due to such reasons waiting for the flights to open soon. But to clarify UAE comes under air bubbles so it’s the decision of UAE government if they allow the passengers to travel then Indian government will accept the same …. Pls it’s a request to Open the air flights soon.
It would have been better if UAE decides to allow expatriates who have taken vaccination from there to travel back.
My daughter is dr. And I am a teacher served UAE school for 16years .we gotheld up in kerala due to covid and banning of flights. We both are vaccinated.hope UAE govt will look into this matter and consider our situation.Yhanking UAE Oct for all their support for Indians.
They said intl suspended till june end frankly speaking no one wants to come here expect people wants to leave this country as soon as possible so they being there life again. Inspite these people let us stuck here for no reason. This virus is not leaving india gor very long time. So better open the air for people who wants to live again.
Plz open flights fastly coz my mother in UAE plz iam requesting iam plz open fights
Those are not air bubbles, “air india bubbles”.
I am still hoping my costly 5 year visa to India from U.K. will be extended as it was effectively nullified by India in or
Around March 2020 ! I am hoping but not Holding my breath. I have yet to
recoup all my costs from a cancelled
Month long tour booked for March 2020! Not belittling the terrible suffering experienced by millions around the world.
@Vivienne, and similarly, I am hoping my wife’s very expensive UK visa that we paid for will also be extended, as it was effectively nullified in March 2020 as well by the virus.
Totally agree Ajay these visas are expensive let’s hope all countries extend them. But I am not banking on it.
Vande Bharat has less & less to do with the pandemic and more & more to get AI’s financials bolstered so that it can be fetch a bid. There is no other logic for this ban on flights & ‘air bubbles’