DGCA extends suspension of international flights to April 14

New Delhi: Aviation watchdog DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) said on Thursday that it has extended the suspension of scheduled international flights until April 14 midnight. Flights from foreign countries to India had earlier been banned till March 31 to contain the spread of Coronavirus. However, as India went under a 21-day lockdown on March 24, suspension of all kinds of modes of transport has been extended.

The restriction will, however, not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA, a circular said. "All scheduled international commercial passenger services shall remain closed till 18:30 hrs GMT of April 14, 2020," it said.

Suspension of domestic flights will also continue till April 14

The suspension of domestic passenger flights will also continue till April 14 midnight. The government had suspended domestic passenger flights from March 24 and has since then extended the embargo first to March 31 and then to April 14.

The backdrop

The news comes a day after the Ministry of Railways decided to extend the cancellation of train services on Indian Railways, ie all Mail/Express trains (including premium trains), passenger trains, suburban trains and trains of Metro Railway, Kolkata, till 2400 hrs of April 14 in continuation of the measures taken in the wake of COVID 19. The Railways had earlier cancelled all trains till March 31. It is now operating only freight trains to ensure supply of essential commodities.

Separately, the Delhi Metro has also suspended all its operations until April 14. The total number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in India stands at 694 and the death toll has risen to 16. A total of 88 new cases have been reported in India on Thursday, making this the highest number of confirmed Coronavirus cases reported in a day so far.