India officially urges Canada to lift ban on direct flights

India has officially urged Canada to lift ban on direct flights from the country. Canada imposed ban on direct flights from India on April 22. The ban was for one month and later it was extended twice. The ban was imposed as the second wave of COVID-19 hit India hard and had a high number of positive cases. The growing threat of the spread of Delta variant was also a reason. The current ban period will end on July 21.

The request to lift the ban was sent by the Indian High Commission in Ottawa to Global Affairs Canada, the foreign ministry of the country. Now travellers from India have to take an indirect flight to Canada. The travellers also need to do a pre-departure testing in a third country, says the government website of Canada.

Hindustan Times quoted Ajay Bisaria, India’s high commissioner to Ottawa, “We have pointed out to the Canadian authorities that there is a huge demand and inconvenience to both Indian and Canadian passengers, particularly students. As well, we have pointed out the dramatic recovery in India and the drop in cases.”

The High Commissioner also held meetings with the representatives of Air India and Air Canada. Before the flight ban was imposed, both these operators used to operate flights between India and Canada almost daily.

In the communique, the Indian High Commissioner highlighted the significant fall in infection rates in India, vaccination program covering a higher percent of the population and positivity rate going below 5%.

Canada flight ban affects citizens, students

India has also urged Canada to consider the inconvenience being caused by the flight ban to Indian and Canadian citizens. The difficulties faced by the Indian students, especially those who wish to commence their studies in Canada in the semester beginning in September, owing to the flight ban was also brought to the notice of the Canadian authorities.

Indians constitute a major portion of the new immigrants to Canada. It is expected that the Canada will lift ban on flights from India soon. Do you wish to move to Canada permanently? If yes, start your preparations today. Connect with CanApprove for more information.