Resume scheduled international passenger flights, suggests Parliamentary panel

As the world is opening up after the COVID-19 induced closure, a few members of a parliamentary panel suggested to the Civil Aviation Ministry to consider resuming scheduled international passenger flights. A few members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture from different parties further questioned top officials of the ministry on the rising prices of international flights. They also questioned why food and beverage were not being served on domestic flights of a duration of less than two hours.

Scheduled international passenger flights were suspended owing to the pandemic on March 23. The suspension now stands extended till November 30. However, since July 2020, special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission and under bilateral air bubble arrangement with 28 countries.

Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal, the Director General of Civil Aviation and the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) deposed before the parliamentary panel on Friday.

Several MPs suggested that international flights be resumed after increasing vaccination against the Covid-19 pandemic. The officials responded that they would look into the matter, sources informed. The MPs further questioned as to on what basis the number of international flights to be allowed to one specific country is decided as the demand for international travel is on the rise.