India to resume regular international flights from March 27 after 2-year hiatus

All the scheduled international flights to and from India will resume from March 27, 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said on Tuesday.

“After deliberation with stakeholders and keeping in view the decline in the COVID-19 caseload, we have decided to resume international travel from March 27 onwards,” Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, adding that “with this step, I am confident the sector will reach new heights”.

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The scheduled international flight services were suspended in India on March 23, 2020, due to the pandemic. However, special international flights have been operating between India and 37 countries since July 2020 under air bubble arrangements. 

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In a statement, the MoCA said that international flight operations from March 27 will be subject to strict adherence to Union health ministry guidelines that were issued on February 10.

“After having recognised the increased vaccination coverage across the globe and in consultation with stakeholders, the Government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India from March 27, 2022, i.e. start of summer schedule 2022,” it said.

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On November 26, 2021, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had announced that scheduled international passenger flights to and from India will resume from December 15, 2021.

However, just a day later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the civil aviation Ministry and the DGCA to review its decision in wake of rising concerns over COVID-19 variant Omicron.

On December 1, 2021, the DGCA revoked its November 26 decision.