Direct passenger flights from India resume as Canada lifts ban

Direct passenger flights to Canada from India resumed Monday as Transport Canada lifted a months-long ban imposed due to high COVID-19 case counts. In a post on Twitter, Transport Canada said direct flights from India can land in Canada, but travellers must have a negative COVID-19 test from an approved laboratory at the New Delhi airport no more than 18 hours before their departure. "Beginning at 00:01 EDT on Sept. 27, direct flights from India can land in Canada with additional public health measures in place," the department said. "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." Air Canada flight data shows that a direct flight from Delhi landed at Toronto's international airport early Monday morning. Transport Canada announced last week an extension to the ban on all direct commercial and private passenger flights to Canada from India through Sunday. The department said that following the end of the ban, airlines would be checking travellers’ COVID-19 test results and confirming that fully vaccinated passengers had uploaded their information to the ArriveCAN mobile app or website. Travellers who come to Canada from India via an indirect route must obtain, within 72 hours of departure, a negative COVID-19 molecular test from a third country, other than India, before continuing their journey to Canada.<br/>