Until February 28, scheduled international flights are suspended

          Scheduled international commercial flights to and from India will be stopped until February 28, according to a new directive issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation on Wednesday.

Flights using air bubble systems would be unaffected, according to the DGCA. The decision comes as the globe prepares for a new wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is being driven by Omicron, the most recent version of the SARS-CoV-2.

The Centre decided in November 2021 to restart regular international flight operations on December 15th. The appearance of Omicron threw a wrench in the plan, and the administration rescinded its intention to begin planned foreign flights days before January 15.

Scheduled foreign flights in India were cancelled on March 23, 2020, two days before the country went into lockdown. Under the air bubble accords, the suspension was extended every month, allowing for emergency foreign transit.

Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, US, and Uzbekistan all have air transport bubbles with India. Under some situations, the agreements permit round-trip air travel.