Kathmandu, March 19

India will close all international flights for one week, starting March 22, in its bid to fight coronavirus spread.

Rajan Pokharel, director general of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, confirmed that the authorities concerned in India sent a circular today halting air service for one week till March 29.

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, in India, all scheduled Indian and foreign airlines engaged in international air transportation to/from India are suspended, states the Airport Authority of India circular.

Sunil Kumar, deputy director general of Airport Authority of India, had forwarded the circular to CAAN which mentions that no scheduled international commercial passenger aircraft shall take off from any foreign airport for any airport in India from March 22. “The restrictions are in addition to the travel restrictions/advisories already issued and under implementation,” the circular adds.

AAI will review the restriction after March 29.

According to Pokharel, Nepal Airlines Corporation and Air India had been operating only one flight a day on the Delhi-Kathmandu route since March 17. However, after the Indian government’s latest decision, both NAC and Air India will halt their flights for at least one week.

Archana Khadka, spokesperson for NAC, said NAC would issue an official statement tomorrow and it would halt the service on Sunday.

Earlier today, NAC also suspended its flight to Narita, Japan, and Dubai, the United Arab Emeritus, with effect from tomorrow until further notice.