India to resume regular international flights from March 27

New Delhi: After a two-year gap, India will resume scheduled international from March 27 and end air-bubble arrangements, the aviation regulator said in a statement on Tuesday.

"After having recognized 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 27.03.2022, i.e. start of Summer Schedule 2022," read a statement from the Civil Aviation Ministry.

It was only recently when the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had announced that scheduled international commercial passenger flights will be suspended until further notice. In the same notification, the DGCA also stated that the restrictions will not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the authority.

Air Bubble arrangements - which allow two countries to operate flights into each other's territories subject to certain conditions - also stand revoked, announced Civil Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Special international flights have been operating between India and 37 countries since July 2020 under this arrangement. The Bubble arrangement hurt airlines' operations and their profitability.

The move may spell a further boost for Indian carriers, which are adding back capacity as more people take to the skies with Covid-19 infections receding and vaccination cover increasing.

Just 3,993 fresh coronavirus infections - the lowest in 662 days - were recorded in India on Tuesday, according to the Union Health Ministry.

The international operations, said the Aviation Ministry, will have to follow the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare guidelines for international travel.

The aviation watchdog, DGCA, had earlier suspended operations in March 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.