After detecting 20 cases of the new strain of Coronavirus from the UK, India has extended the ban on flights to and from the country till January 7 next year.
This came in after 20 UK returnees tested for the new COVID-19 which is 20% more infectious. Earlier this week, six returnees tested positive for the new variant.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted today, “A decision has been taken to extend the temporary suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom till 7 January 2021.”
Decision has been taken to extend the temporary suspension of flights to & from the UK till 7 January 2021.
Thereafter strictly regulated resumption will take place for which details will be announced shortly.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) December 30, 2020
The government earlier had announced a week-long suspension of flights to and from between Britain till December 31.
India-UK has 67 weekly flights operated by four airlines — Air India, Vistara, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Almost 2,000-2,500 passengers used to fly in daily on these flights.
