Maple News reports that Canada will lift its ban on direct passenger flights from India starting at midnight on September 27, allowing for a full resumption of air travel between the two countries. The travel corridor had been closed since April due to surging COVID-19 cases in both India and Canada.
With the lifting of the ban, Indian travelers will once again be able to fly directly to Canada, but enhanced public health measures will still be strictly enforced. Passengers must present a negative COVID-19 molecular test result from the Genestrings Laboratory, located at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. This test must be taken no more than 18 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Airlines will be required to review passengers’ test results prior to boarding to ensure compliance. Additionally, travelers must upload their vaccination documentation and personal information through the ArriveCAN mobile app or website. Those who do not meet these criteria will not be permitted to board their flight to Canada.
To validate the safety of the new protocol, three direct flights from India arriving on September 22 will serve as a test case. All passengers on these flights will undergo COVID-19 testing upon landing in Canada.
Even after direct flights resume, travelers from India taking indirect routes must continue to provide a negative COVID-19 molecular test taken within 72 hours of boarding their connecting flight to Canada.
The initial suspension of direct travel from India had been part of Canada’s border control strategy amid the global pandemic. Since April, only cargo, medical evacuation, and military flights were allowed to operate between the two countries.
Canada still maintains a travel ban on direct flights from Morocco, in place until at least September 29.
In related updates, Canada reopened its borders to fully vaccinated international tourists on September 7. Travelers must be fully vaccinated with a Health Canada-approved vaccine—such as Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson—and provide a negative COVID-19 test before arrival.
While quarantine is no longer required for fully vaccinated travelers, everyone must still prepare a 14-day quarantine plan as a precaution and fulfill entry requirements through the ArriveCAN system. At the border, travelers must be symptom-free and meet all health safety checks.
Maple News continues to monitor changes and developments in international travel and immigration policies as Canada transitions into its next phase of pandemic response.