NEW DELHI: The DGCA, India's civil aviation authority, extended the ban on scheduled international commercial flights till February 28, 2022 on Wednesday.

India is currently seeing a third Covid wave, which is claimed to be fueled by the Omicron variant. The DGCA announced that the prohibition on planned foreign commercial flights would be extended until February 28, 2022.  "This restriction does not apply to international all-cargo operations or flights that the DGCA has specifically approved."

Flights under the Air Bubble agreement, on the other hand, will not be affected." The prohibition on planned foreign commercial flights was extended by the civil aviation regulator last month until January 31, 2022.  India had previously stated that regular commercial international passenger flights would be resumed on December 15, 2021, subject to certain conditions.

On December 1, 2021, however, the DGCA stated that it is "closely watching" the situation arising from the Covid-19's Omicron variant, and that a final decision on the return of near-normal international flying operations will be made following consultation with stakeholders.

On March 23, last year, India declared an international flight restriction in order to contain and control the spread of Covid-19. Flight restrictions were later banned as part of an air bubble agreement with a few countries.

Two ex-Cathay Pacific flight attendants arrested for violating Covid rules

Visa fees for international students and backpackers will be waived in Australia

Malaysia scales up 3,245 new Covid-19 infections, 9 new deaths.