India extends UK flights ban till 7 January

NEW DELHI: Indian has extended the temporary suspension of flights to the UK till 7 January, aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday.

"Decision has been taken to extend the temporary suspension of flights to & from the UK till 7 January 2021," Puri said on social media platform Twitter.

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"Thereafter strictly regulated resumption will take place for which details will be announced shortly," he added.

The Indian government had last week suspended flights to and from the UK till 31 December to prevent the spread of a new strain of the coronavirus, considered to be 70% more infectious.

The government’s decision is likely influenced by several Indian passengers who on their return from the UK tested positive for the new virus strain recently.

Minister Puri had on Tuesday said the ban on flights to the UK is temporary.

“I foresee—I am not making an announcement—a slight extension of the temporary suspension. I don’t expect that extension to be long or indefinite," civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri told a press conference on Tuesday.

“Once we have the genome sequence completed, it will give us the full picture and confidence to open up flight services again," he added.