Amid the nationwide lockdown to minimise the spread of novel coronavirus, aviation regulator DGCA on Thursday extended the ban on international flights till 6.30 p.m., April 14. Though, this restriction will not apply to approved international cargo operations.
Earlier, the government had banned all international commercial flights landing in India for a week beginning March 22. In line with the government decision, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on March 19 had announced that no international commercial passenger flights will be allowed to land in India from 1.30 am on March 23 to 5.30 am on March 29.
The centre has already suspended the visas of all incoming tourists and barred passengers of flights from the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Travellers from several countries are also subject to a 14-day quarantine when they arrive in India.
“In continuation of circular-II dated 19.3.2020 issued on the subject cited-above, it has been decided that all scheduled international commercial passenger services shall remain closed till 1830 hrs GMT (0000 hrs of Indian Standard Time) of April 14, 2020,” the aviation regulator said.
“However, this restriction will not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA,” it added.
The government has already suspended all domestic passenger flight operations from midnight on March 24.
As the nation enters day 2 of the 21-day lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the confirmed cases of coronavirus rose to 694 and 16 people died till now, according to the Union health ministry.
