Decision on resumption of international flights will be made next month: Aviation Minister

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said that the decision on resumption of international flights will be taken in the coming month. However, no timeline has been made as the decision will be made after consulting all stakeholders in the industry, said the minister.

“We are confident that in the coming month we will start taking decisions on the resumption of international flights. I do not want to put a timeline here, all stakeholders and travelers need to be taken into confidence,” Puri was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Earlier today, Puri said about 730 departures and 734 arrivals have been conducted since the restoration of domestic flights in the country. “We are flying smooth and steady. Till 15 June, 730 departures with 67,718 passengers handled and 734 arrivals with 68,236 passengers handled. Total movements 1,464 with 1,35,954 passenger footfalls at airports. The total number of flyers were 67,718,” Puri tweeted.

All scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended in India on March 25 after a nationwide lockdown due to coronavirus crisis. However domestic flights in the country resumed operations from May 25.

India started the Vande Bharat Mission on May 6 to repatriate stranded people reach their home states through Air India flights on payment basis.

About 480 flights have brought back more than 90,000 Indians from 52 countries since May 6 under the mission.

India also airlifted more than 24,000 people on outbound flights under this mission.