International flight operations likely to return to normal soon: Report

New Delhi : In good news for international travellers to and from India, the International flight operations are likely to return to normal "by the end of the year", Rajiv Bansal, the Aviation Ministry Secretary, was quoted by news agency PTI on Wednesday.

India had stopped all International flights (except those on repatriation missions and carrying essential goods, like medicines and food) in March last year when the lockdown was announced to stop COVID-19 transmission. 

Later, a few flight operations were resumed under "air bubble" to bring the stranded Indians in foreign land. India currently has 25 such deals with different nations.

Under an air bubble arrangement, international passenger flights can be operated by member countries' respective carriers into each other's territories, subject to certain conditions.

Last week Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had announced that the government is looking for possible ways to normalize the flight operations. 

Last month, Domestic flights were allowed to run at full capacity. The government resumed domestic flight ops in May last year after a two-month break.