India will stop flights to and from the UK at midnight on Wednesday after the latter reported a new strain of Covid-19 that’s 70% more infectious and has been rampant across parts of Britain, leading to shutdowns. Various European nations and Canada have also barred UK flights. India’s ban is currently until the end of the year. “Considering the prevailing situation in (the) UK, (the) Govt. of India has decided that all flights originating from (the) UK to India to be suspended till 31st December.
This will lead to the cancellation of 37 weekly nonstop flights to the UK from India by four carriers – Air India, Vistara, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Every passenger arriving from the UK ahead of the halt will be tested upon arrival. “As a measure of abundant precaution, passengers arriving from (the) UK in all transit flights (flights that have taken off or flights which are reaching India before 22nd Dec at 23.59 hrs) should be subject to mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival at the airports concerned,” the ministry said.
