April 29 2021 Despite the recent surge in new cases of Coronavirus in India, Air India plans to resume direct flights to the United States in the first half of May to pre-pandemic levels, U.S. media reported.
An Air India spokesman told CNN that the airline plans to operate 32 non-stop flights a week to the United States starting May 11. Before the Coronavirus pandemic, Air India operated 33 flights a week.
The airline currently operates 29 flights a week to the U.S. and will gradually add new flights to its schedule starting Thursday.
Asked if demand was driving new direct flights to the US following the recent surge in new cases of Coronavirus in India, an Air India spokesman said: “Our direct flights to and from the US have been very popular. The surge in direct flights can be attributed to a variety of factors. ”
India accounted for 38 percent of new confirmed cases in the week ended April 25, the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
According to CDC guidelines, passengers entering the U.S. by air are required to provide a negative report of a new coronavirus nucleic acid test within 3 days of departure or proof that they have contracted a Coronavirus but have recovered within 3 months of boarding.
Meanwhile, many countries, including the UK, France, Italy and Canada, have tightened quarantine measures or imposed sweeping bans on flights from India.
