On Tuesday, 21SEP, the Government of Canada’s ban on direct flights from India appeared to be quietly expiring.
Previously, when the ban rolled over monthly since APR, Transport Canada provided ample notice of every extension.
But on 21SEP, with just hours to go before the official expiry at 23:59 EDT, and following - as Open Jaw reported - social media exchanges between pax and carriers like Air Canada, it appeared that direct flights between Canada and India were simply resuming without fanfare.
#BreakingNews @AirCanada is resuming non-stop flights to @DelhiAirport from @TorontoPearson.
The resumption of non-stop flights brings an end to the need of having to travel to #Canada via a third country incurring extra cost. #AvGeek #PaxEx pic.twitter.com/YMChtrqx2X— 𝐕𝐓-𝐕𝐋𝐎 (@Vinamralongani) September 20, 2021
Hello Ameya, yes, the route is resuming. More information to follow here: https://t.co/gxakBcYSqv /Frank
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) September 20, 2021
In addition, Air Canada’s web site now posts “Air Canada’s Testing Requirements for Flights from India.”
5-Day Extension of Ban, But Flights Already Arriving in Canada
However, at the last minute, later on 21SEP, Transport Canada issued a statement, extending the ban on all direct commercial flights from India to Canada until 26SEP, 2021 at 23:59 EDT.
It turns out, as the government statement revealed, that three direct flights from India have actually departed and arrive in Canada on 22SEP, “as a first step,” with testing of all pax upon arrival “to ensure that... new measures are working.”
The last-minute, 5-day ban extension now appears to be in aid of validating special arrival requirements for Canada-bound passengers from India. Prior to boarding:
- Pax 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; and
- Airlines will be verifying travellers’ test results to ensure they are eligible to come to Canada, and that fully vaccinated travellers have uploaded their information into the ArriveCAN mobile app or website.
The Transport Canada notice advises that travellers who are unable to meet the special requirements will be denied boarding.
In addition, it notes that after the resumption of direct flights, pax travelling to Canada from India via an indirect route will continue to be required to obtain, within 72 hours of departure, a valid negative COVID-19 molecular test from a third country – other than India – before continuing their journey to Canada.
