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 that has signed up Air Bubbles with India, and we have about 32 of these air bubbles.
India had planned to resume scheduled operations on December 15, 2021, but declared that they will “review” their decision in light of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV2 virus surfacing, and basically postponing the reopening of international commercial aviation. The review is complete, and the government of India has come to a decision.
International Flight India Ban
The DGCA has now put up a notification further extending the ban till January 2022. The Air Bubble flights and Vande Bharat flights are excluded from this notification.
This is terrible news for airlines, who will now have to go ahead and cancel flights they would have lined up to operate to India effective December 15, 2021. This is also terrible news for customers, who might have looked forward to coming back to India after a year or eighteen months, with fares having already skyrocketed due to the paucity of flights for a while.
Air Bubble Flights will continue, as reiterated by DGCA
In continuation to DGCA Circular No. 4/1/2020-IR dated 9.12.2021 on Travel & Visa Restrictions related to COVID-19, it is clarified to all concerned that all international flights under existing Bubble Agreements shall continue to operate till 31st of January 2022.
— DGCA (@DGCAIndia) December 9, 2021
Bottomline
India has once again extended its air travel ban. This means regular commercial air travel is off limits till January 30, 2022. I hope this time around this is the final timeline to reopening of operations and not just another extension.
What do you make of this International Flight India ban?
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Namaste
I am french. I live in Tamil Nadu for 3 years.
I got an OCI visa.
At this moment i meet my french family.
I have a ticket flight to come back in india the 18th january 2022.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO FLIGHT WITH AIR INDIA FROM ROISSY CDG TO DEHLI, THEN TO CHENNAI ? 18th and 19th january 2022
Thanks for your answer !
Max
I am flying to London on 10 January
Iam good to fiy
Hi, I already booking my tickets mumbai to Kenya on 15th December direct flight. Is it possible to travelling..
I have my flight from Canada to India (Bangalore) via Qatar. Qatar to India is operated by Qatar airways. My flight is on Dec 26th. I am travelling to see mom after 3 years.
I am really afraid if I will be able to travel?????
Thanks for the response in advance.
Someone please reply, thanks.
I have opted aircanada Canada to Bangalore. Got connectivity with Qatar airways from Qatar to Bangalore.
Please reply, thanks again
Please reply, thanks
@ajay
Sir, I am seafarer flying to srilanka from new delhi on 13th December to join ship!!! Can i travel? Will be grateful to you for your response on this!
Hi, my boyfriend is coming from USA to India on confirmed tourist visa which he applied and confirmed flight ticket. He will fly on 13th from USA and reach Delhi on 15th December 5am. Will it effect his travel plans or will he able to land Delhi on 15th December?
Will appreciate your feedback. Thank you.
I have a ticket to Bangkok this monday 13th dc from Mumbai to Bangkok. Can I fly?
Hi malyasia to delhi flight have march
I have booking on 18th jan22 from Bangalore to Chicago in united airlines is there ban apply this too?
Hi
I hv planned my trip to chennai on aiirindia express on 15th Dec & return on 30th Dec.
Can I travel.
I have ticket scheduled on 1st January 2022, from delhi to Sydney(Australia). I have a student visa. I have booked Air India direct flight. Am i be eligible to travel?
India has established an air bubble with Australia. The Indian and Australian carriers may carry the passengers on their flights being operated between India and Australia
I have ticket schedule on Dec 15 from hyderabad to Dubai by indigo airlines is there ban apply these too?
@Nehaluddin you should be good to go
Will The flights continues after 31 Jan 2022 ? I am travelling from Delhi airport to Chicago by Air India airlines on 5th of Feb 2022 so can I still travel ?
I am travelling London to Mumbai via Kuwait (Kuwait Airlines) on 17th December – is that OK?
Hi Ajay,
We are Indian born, British Passport holders and scheduled to fly from London to Gujarat on 18th and be back in mid January.
Are our flying still allowed?
This is frustrating situation.
Please let us know by email.
Thanks
JJ
@JV Jadav, as long as you have a confirmed ticket, you are good to fly.
Please all international student and traveller’s support us please remove this banner because we waiting for 2 years plz remove this bann.
Exactly…. Even after getting screening certificate & visa we have to wait for this Corona shit.. what’s the problem if all the students maintain the COVID protocol & stays in proper quarantine after landing & completing RT PCR!!.. don’t know.. government is loving to play with the future of students.. cz all other’s are allowed for businesses then why workers & students have to stay aside waiting all the ages!!,?.. this is so disappointing!
Hi,
I have my flight scheduled direct flight on 14th Jan 2022, New Delhi to Vancouver. Will there any challenges??
@Ashwani, if under air bubble (Air Canada/Air India) no trouble.
Can i travel through Canada airline from india to Canada on 16th december
I’m travelling Mumbai to Paris direct flight by Air France on 20 December on short term Visa can I still go ? plz reply
@parveen, yes
i am working in Saud Arabia, end of December i am coming exit from Saudi Arabia. plz reply can i come directly or by Dubai, to delhi. i have exit visa (finial exit)
I suggest everyone visits the civil aviation ministry’s site to read the fine print on air bubble agreements for yourself.
You should also confirm this with your airline since they might have information the public doesn’t have.
https://www.civilaviation.gov.in/en/about-air-transport-bubbles
Hi ,
Will the flights comes under Air bubble will be operational after 31st Jan 2022.
In the tweet from DGCA it is mentioned that “existing Bubble Agreements shall continue to operate till 31st of January 2022.”
I am travelling from Delhi airport to Canada by Qatar airlines on 16th of December. Can I still go????
This is what is mentioned on the civil aviation ministry site:
ii. Any Indian national or national of Nepal or Bhutan destined for Qatar or any country in South America or Africa only and holding a valid visa of the destination country. It would be for the airlines concerned to ensure that there is no travel restriction for Indian/Nepalese/Bhutanese nationals to enter the destination country before issue of ticket/boarding pass to the Indian/Nepalese/Bhutanese passenger; and
From the looks of this it seems like you can only go to the Gulf or Africa/Sth. America which sounds crazy to me. You should talk to Qatar Airways if possible about this – never trust the Indian Government blindly on its word.
What about the student pilot program running by Australian NSW Government. It is our dream and our career depends on this travel. I request our government not to cancel this pilot program flight which is on December 23rd.
Can I travel from Dubai to Bangalore through emirates airlines as my vacation will be on next year Jan end like that
I booked my flight ticket at KLM airlines from india to canada on December 23/2021 with
Total 2 layovers ,1 in Dubai another one at Amsterdam. Can someone suggest me is this route is open for travel or banned?
For clarification…since the USA has air bubble direct flights…can I still go in December on a tourist visa if I am on one of those flights? Appreciate your thoughts!
@Tom, yes
Check the specific air bubble agreement between the US and India because it might exclude tourist visa holders. Frustrating… I know.
Hi
It’s so late January
I know it’s scary n we ve to be careful but it’s not that much like before
We are stuck here n my husband in England
At lest let them allo till Kathmandu Nepal if not india
We are not happy at all
Please do not extend till February
Please
Please tweet this message to DGCA India, Ministry of Civil Aviation and other Govt of India channels on social media like twitter. The govt believes that there is no demand for international air traffic other than air bubbles, so it is only our duty to convince that is not the case.