<p><strong>New Delhi:</strong> The ban on international flight operations has been extended till February 28, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced on Thursday.&nbsp;<strong>ALSO READ | <span style="color: #e03e2d;"><a style="color: #e03e2d;" href="https://ift.tt/3cicy2D Summit: PM Modi Lauds India's Handling Of Covid Crisis, Talks About Helping Other Nations In Vaccine Drive</a></span><br /></strong></p> <p>The ban on international flights was implemented last year to contain coronavirus spread in the country. "The restrictions shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA," Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated in a circular.&nbsp;</p> <p>"However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis," the regulator added.</p> <p>[tw]https://twitter.com/DGCAIndia/status/1354776736102109186[/tw]</p> <p>The centre had allowed domestic flight operations last year but restrictions have been imposed on international flights. Recently, there was a temporary ban on flights to and from the UK in the wake of the new "superspreader" strain detected there.</p> <p>Aviation Ministry, meanwhile, is getting closer to the scale of the domestic flight operations as they were before the Coronavirus pandemic put everything to a halt.</p> <p>"2,73,845 passengers on 2,179 flights yesterday is a new high since domestic flights resumed on 25 May 2020. This takes us even closer to the pre-Covid numbers. Flying has emerged as the chosen mode of transport which offers efficiency, safety and predictability," Union Minister Hardeep Puri tweeted earlier this month.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Railway Board has permitted Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation to resume e-catering services at a selected number of stations as revealed by IRCTC. The catering service had been stopped fearing Coronavirus spread.</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/india/ban-on-international-commercial-flights-to-and-from-india-extended-till-feb-28-1441486