Canada Puts 30-Day Ban On India, Pakistan Flights

Canada has suspended flights from India and Pakistan for the next 30 days. The suspension took effect at 11:30 pm on Thurs., April 22.

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra made the announcement, pointing to the rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases and the emergence of a new mutation of the virus.

He also emphasized that now is not the time for Canadians to travel as the rules for travel can change at any time.

All direct commercial and private jet flights to Canada will be banned for the next 30 days and Minister Alghabra said that passengers who travel to Canada by connecting flights will now be required to have a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding their flight from their last point of departure before travelling to Canada.

The federal government has been under pressure to take action as cases in India have been rising at alarming rates, with that country reporting a record 314,000 cases today (April 22) and the emergence of a new type of mutant variation that is raising concern amongst health officials.