NEW DELHI: Direct connectivity has finally resumed between India and Canada after almost five months. Air Canada has restarted Delhi-Toronto nonstops with a new protocol where WHO-approved vaccinated passengers must undergo an RT-PCR or a rapid PCR test within 18 hours of boarding its flights from the Covid-19 Testing Centre and Lounge at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3.

“Air Canada requires either of these specific tests as no other test from any other clinic within India will be accepted, even if you are connecting from a different city. You may also be able to travel if you provide proof of a certified positive PCR test result taken between 14 and 180 days before your scheduled departure flight to Canada,” Air Canada says on its site for “testing requirements for flights from India.”

The requirement of a negative RT-PCR report from a third country has been dropped. The first post-resumption flight AC 42 (Toronto-Delhi) is going to land at the destination around 9 pm on Monday to fly passengers from here starting Tuesday.

Air India could soon start Delhi-Vancouver and Delhi-Toronto nonstops.

“In addition to the above new requirements the following conditions to travel still remain: All travellers must be double vaccinated. Only the following vaccines are recognised by Canada : Johnson / Moderna / Pfizer/Covishield.

All documents must be uploaded prior to departure on https://www.arrivecan-online.com/. For further information and updates please also visit Government of Canada website www.canada.ca ,” Air Canada has told travel partners in a communique ACCESSED.

All documents must be uploaded prior to departure online and travellers have been advised to check for information and updates please on government of Canada website www.canada.ca

Canada had suspended all commercial and private passenger flights from India on April 23, 2021, during the deadly second Covid wave here, and the restriction was till Tuesday (September 21). Since then, people going from India to Canada would do so via some other country and they were required to get a Covid negative test report from that transit country before taking off for their destination.

Now with Air Canada listing new travel requirement from India, the third country transit option will no longer be need to be exercised.

“Please note that Air Canada’s requirements for boarding the flight from India to Canada have now changed. The only accepted Covid-19 tests are an RT-PCR test…” Air Canada site says. While it has resumed Delhi-Toronto, AI flight plans for Canada are awaited.

“As your customers have an upcoming flight from Delhi with Air Canada, they must book their RT-PCR test prior to travel. In order for your customers to receive their results in time, we recommend they book an appointment no later than six hours before their departing flight. If they are travelling in signature class, they should look for the dedicated section at the testing facility. If they need further assistance, our airport check-in counters will be open 6 hours prior to departure. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to your customers travel plans. Thank you for your patience and understanding,” Air Canada has told travel partners in a communique.