India To Resume International Flights From Dec. 15

India is resuming international commercial flights from Dec.15, the country's civil aviation authorities said on Friday.

"The matter has been reviewed and the competent authority has decided to resume the scheduled commercial international passenger services, to and from India, with effect from 15th December 2021," said an order issued by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The scheduled international commercial passenger services will remain suspended till 11.59 pm Indian time on Dec. 14.

In view of the COVID-19, the commercial flights were suspended from March 23, 2020. Currently, flights on various international routes are being operated under air bubble arrangement.

India's Civil Aviation ministry, however, said on Friday that "there will be a calibrated resumption of operations from the countries recognized" as "at-risk" by the Indian Health Ministry.

From a staggering peak of more than 400,000 cases and 4,500 deaths per day, India's pandemic situation has improved, with most parts of the country now seeing a decline in the cases.

On Friday, the Health Ministry said that 10,549 new cases were registered in the country taking the total cases to 34.5 million. There were 488 fresh deaths as well, and the total death toll stands at 467,468. -