Canada lifts ban on direct flights from India

“Travellers must have proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test from the approved Genestrings Laboratory at the Delhi airport taken within 18 hours of the scheduled departure of their direct flight to Canada,” it added.

In April, Canada banned all direct flights to and from India when the second Covid wave hit India. The date of reopening has been postponed many times.

Welcoming the decision, India’s high commissioner to Canada Ajay Bisaria described it as a “decisive step towards normalising air mobility” between the two nations.

“@airindiain and @AirCanada are now set to run daily flights between Delhi and Toronto/Vancouver from 27 September. Working with Canadian partners to further ease travel,” he tweeted.

Passengers who travel from India to Canada via an indirect route still need to provide a pre-departure negative COVID-19 molecular test result from a third country before continuing their journey to Canada.