India and Malaysia have each set a date for the resumption of international travel.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India will resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from the country on March 27, 2022.
“After having recognized the increased vaccination coverage across the globe and in consultation with the stakeholders, the Government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services to/from India from 27.03.2022, i.e. start of Summer Schedule 2022,” the Indian aviation regulator announced in a statement dated March 8, 2022.
India will now reopen its international borders to foreign travelers from any other country.
The Indian government had suspended all scheduled international commercial passenger flights from March 23, 2020, in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The suspension was extended multiple times due to new waves of infections across the country.
A similar decision to reopen international borders has also been made by the Malaysian government.
Speaking at a press conference on March 8, 2022, Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the country will fully reopen its borders on April 1, 2022, as the country begins to transition to the COVID-19 endemic phase.
The Malaysian government will also remove all mandatory quarantine restrictions for its vaccinated citizens. However, foreign travelers will still be required to take a Real-Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test two days before departure to Malaysia as well as a Rapid Test Kit-Antigen (RTK-Ag) test within 24 hours after arrival into the country.
“I believe [the reopening of international air travel, ed.-] has been long-awaited by the people. This announcement will also boost the economy as a whole, in particular the tourism industry that has been badly affected by the pandemic. Most importantly, Malaysia is now a destination that is open and can be visited by all,” Ismail Sabri Yaakob added.
Malaysia shut its borders in April 2020, suspending all international passenger flights.