Aug 2020

Guideline for International Commercial Flight Operation

International Commercial Flight Operation

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the regulatory body in the field of Civil Aviation, primarily dealing with safety issues. It is responsible for regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety, and airworthiness standards.

The DGCA also co-ordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Aviation is among the worst-affected sectors amidst the Covid-19 crisis that has taken the scale of a pandemic. According to the International Air Transport Association, airlines globally can lose in passenger revenues of up to $113 billion due to this crisis.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday said that international commercial flight operations to and from India will remain suspended till July 15. the civil aviation watchdog further added that the it may allow a few international scheduled flights on selected routes.

International flights were stopped in India on March 23 when a nationwide lockdown was announced to stop the spread of corona virus. While domestic flights resumed in the country after over two months of lockdown on May 25, restarting international operation will take some more time.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said decision in resuming international flights may be taken in July if corona virus behaves in a predictable manner. The Minister also said Those decisions will be taken by the governments after looking at their domestic situation. National carrier Air India and a few other private airlines have been operating international flights under the Vande Bharat Mission to bring back Indians struck foreign countries amid the corona virus pandemic.

According to reports, over 90,000 Indians have been brought back from 52 countries since May 6 when the Vande Bharat Mission started. So for now the The international flight to remain suspended decision on when to resume it would be taken after making an assessment of the situation.