International flight operations may resume soon: Report

According to India Today TV, the government of India is likely to resume international flight operations on selected routes during the second phase of unlock (Unlock 2.0), which starts from July 1. With Unlock 1.0 due to end on June 30, the Center is likely to issue fresh guidelines for Unlock 2.0 soon.

International flights on the New Delhi-New York, Mumbai-New York routes may be allowed to resume in Unlock 2.0. Moreover, private airlines may also be permitted to resume operations to the Gulf countries, the report said.

The thought of resuming international flight services has emerged in the view of U.S transported department’s decision to restrict Air India Vande Bharat mission flight services citing “unfair and discriminatory practices”. The U.S officials had also instructed the Indian National career Air India to obtain a prior approval for conducting charter flights services.

Last week, Indian Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said that in the wake of heavy traffic between India and North America the ministry had been mulling over the resumption of international service to North american countries, provided there should be consensus between countries to accept and receive the passengers.

In the wake of the pandemic, domestic private carriers have offered to operate 750 repatriation flights in third and fourth phases of Vande Bharat Mission, minister added.

“Close to 2,75,000 Indians, who were stranded in foreign countries, have been brought back to the country in flights and ships during the lockdown,” the minister said.