Canada extends ban on passenger flights from India till Sept 21

Passengers wishing to travel to Canada from India will have to wait a little while longer as the country has decided to extend the travel ban until September 21. The decision has been taken in order to curb the potential spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

Citing the South Asian country’s enduring struggles to contain the spread of COVID-19 within its borders, Transport Canada announced the decision, reported Sputnik.

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“Based on the latest public health advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Transport Canada is extending the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that restricts all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from India until September 21, 2021, at 23:59 EDT,” the department said in a statement. 

This marks the fifth time the ban has been rolled over after being first imposed on April 22. While initially it was slated to expire on August 21, it will now remain in effect till September 21. The government further stated that it would work with the government of India to ensure the process is in place. 

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“The Government of Canada continues to closely monitor the epidemiological situation, and will be working closely with the Government of India and aviation operators to ensure appropriate procedures are put in place to enable a safe return of direct flights as soon as conditions permit,” the federal government said in a press release.

The aforementioned ban does not apply on medical flights, cargo or military. Furthermore, it is also applicable on all travellers – Canadian citizens or permanent residents – and demands a valid negative COVID certificate if they happen to travel to Canada indirectly from a third country. 

“This means that passengers who depart India to Canada via an indirect route will continue to be required to obtain a valid COVID-19 pre-departure test from a third country – other than India – before continuing their journey to Canada,” the release concludes.