Mutant Covid: India suspends flights from UK till Dec 31

New Delhi: Centre on Monday suspended all flights to and from the United Kingdom (UK) till December 31 in the wake of the new mutant strain of novel coronavirus.

The suspension will start with effect from 23.59 hours on December 22, 2020.

Consequently, all flights from India to UK shall also stand temporarily suspended during the period, said a Ministry tweet.

At present, Vistara, Air India, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways operate flights between the two countries.

These airlines operate about 40 weekly flights from eight Indian destinations to and from the UK.

“In view of the emerging Covid-19 situation in United Kingdom, the competent authority has temporarily suspended flight to and from United Kingdom with effect from 2359 hrs IST of 22 December, 2020,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a circular.

“Therefore, no flights from United Kingdom will land in India after 2359 hrs IST of 22 December, 2020. The airline shall enforce this at the port of initial departure. Consequently, flights from India to United Kingdom shall also remain suspended.”

However, the restriction will not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA.

Besides, the Ministry of Civil Aviation in a tweet said as a measure of abundant precaution, passengers arriving from the UK in all transit flights should be subjected to mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival at the airports in India.

India’s bar on passenger flights follows similar steps by several European countries on Sunday.

IANS

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