India’s resumption of scheduled flights a welcome move

Two years after India suspended international flights following a nationwide lockdown imposed to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has finally decided to resume regular operations from March 27.

Since last year, the country has been operating flights under ‘air bubble’ agreements with several countries, including the UAE, enabling passenger movement. The decision to resume normal operations will bring relief to millions of Indians and foreigners, especially those travelling between the UAE and other parts of the Gulf and India.

The move will hopefully also bring down the fares, especially during the peak travel season, making air travel unaffordable for many.

Of course, the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine has resulted in a spurt in oil prices, which could deter airlines from slashing fares.

Fortunately, India has also seen its Covid-19 infection rates plunge to the lowest levels since May 2020.

Less than 4,000 cases were registered on Tuesday, the lowest in 662 days and also the second day in a row when it recorded less than 5,000 cases.

The cumulative vaccine doses in India have almost touched 1.8 billion. Increasingly, many countries around the globe are opening up, encouraging fully-vaccinated business executives, tourists and students to travel and rediscover places.

The Indian decision to revoke air bubble arrangements and restore normal flights beginning the 2022 summer schedule will provide a big boost to two-way traffic, with both tourists and other visitors heading to the country and Indians resuming their overseas travels.

Normalcy is also gradually setting in over the country and in many parts of the world and the coming months will hopefully see the end of a grim and frightening chapter globally.