International flights are set to return to India starting March 27, according to the Times of India. Such flights have been suspended since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 and was even extended indefinitely earlier this month. That said, the government quickly changed its mind on the decision.
In a statement, India’s Civil Aviation Ministry said, "After having recognized the increased vaccination coverage across the globe and in consultation with the stakeholders, the Government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India from [March 27, 2022], i.e. start of Summer Schedule 2022."
The existing “air bubble" arrangements that allow for travel between India and select countries (which has been in operation since July 2020 and had its own set of restrictions) will be revoked on the same date that all international flights can resume.
According to The New York Times, India is averaging just over 5,000 new coronavirus cases daily (less than one per 100,000 people)—a drop of 74 percent over the last 14 days. Deaths are averaging 158 a day (.01 per 100,00). Fifty-nine percent of the total population is fully vaccinated. Globally, cases are generally dropping, down 10 percent over the past two weeks, with deaths down 26 percent over the same span. “The global outlook for the pandemic continues to brighten,” the Times said.
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