In view of the emergence of a new covid-19 variant - Omicron, authorities in India have decided to not resume the commercial international flights which were scheduled to begin from December 15. The flights are likely to get postponed.
Countries have already implemented restrictions on incoming flights particularly, from the “at-risk” nations, while airports across several countries have been alerted.
Travellers arriving from the listed risk nations will have to undergo a strict routine of tests and quarantine.
Also Read: WHO classifies Omicron as 'Variant of Concern' as it shows high vaccine resistance
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Wednesday in a note indicated that the present "air bubble" system of flight operation will continue. "In view of the merging global scenario... the situation is being watched closely in consultation with all stakeholders and an appropriate decision indicating the effective date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services shall be notified in due course,” read the note.
Omicron emergence promotes even more devastating effects from the second wave caused by the Delta variant of the virus that was receding. Offices have resumed with normal work, while malls and cinema halls are operating now, schools were going offline, domestic flights began operating like before and meanwhile, the international flight situation was also getting back to the normal track. But the emergence of Omicron has risked everything again.
The Indian government has announced on 26 November the resumption of scheduled international commercial flights from December 15.
International flights were banned for over 20 months. Domestic flights were operating under a bubble arrangement that contained two or more countries permitting running the flights into each other’s territories, however, under certain conditions.
Given the latest threat from the omicron strain, the Centre announced a fresh set of guidelines for airports that include on-arrival testing for passengers from nearly a dozen countries that have been flagged as “at risk”. It is mandatory for a passenger to obtain a negative result in the RT-PCR test to leave the airport.
The rules also include random testing of two percent of passengers arriving from other countries. This set of passengers are allowed to leave the airport before the results are known but must be home isolated for a minimum of seven days. These passengers are mandated to report any Covid like symptoms.
Also Read: 2 Omicron variant cases detected in Australia's New South Wales
Multiple airports across India have announced their individual rules causing tensions between th Centre and the Maharashtra governments.
Maharashtra said that samples from six international passengers that arrived from “at risk” countries have tested positive from Covid and have been sent for genome sequencing.