Canada lifts ban on flights from India with new Covid protocols

Direct flights between India and Canada to resume from Monday September 27. Canada has lifted a month-long ban on direct passenger flights from India, which was put in place owing to risks posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with the ban now expiring, passengers from India can now travel to Canada, albeit with a few precautionary measures, which include having a negative Covid-19 test report from an approved laboratory at Delhi airport.

According to a news release issued by Transport Canada in view of the Covid-19 situation, passengers travelling from India to Canada will be required to adhere to the following measures:

-Obtain a pre-departure negative Covid-19 molecular test result from the Genestrings Laboratory, located above the metro station in the Airport Connect Building (ACB) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

-The report should be taken not more than 18 hours before the scheduled departure.

-Present the test report with a QR code issued by this laboratory to the air operators before boarding. Alternatively, travellers who have previously tested positive for Covid-19 can present a positive molecular test issued by a certified laboratory in India. 

-Passengers who travel from India to Canada via an indirect route will still be required to provide a pre-departure negative Covid-19 molecular test result from a third country before continuing their journey to Canada.However, if you test positive during transit, you may face local quarantine regulations or be returned to your point of departure.Thus, it has been advised to carefully consider the itinerary, transit options and entry requirements for third countries.