India extends UK flights ban till 7 January

The Indian government on December 30th extended the temporary suspension of flights to the UK till January 7th, aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday on twitter. “Decision has been taken to extend the temporary suspension of flights to & from the UK till 7 January 2021,” Puri said. The Indian government had earlier suspended flights to and from the UK till 31 December to prevent the spread of a new strain of the coronavirus, considered to be 70% more infectious. The government’s decision is likely influenced by several Indian passengers who on their return from the UK tested positive for the new virus strain recently, which has caused concern for the government.