Domestic Flights to Resume from May 25 in a Calibrated Manner, Says Govt

Guwahati:

Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Wednesday announced that domestic flights and civil aviation operations will resume from 25 May in a "calibrated" manner. SOPs for the passengers are also being readied by the Minisry, Puri informed.

Taking to Twitter Puri wrote, "Domestic civil aviation operations will recommence in a calibrated manner from 25 May. All airports & air carriers are being informed to be ready for operations from 25 May. SOPs for passenger movement also being separately issued by Ministry."

In an earlier tweet, Puri had said that the State Governments will also play a key role in the resumption of flights following the nationwide lockdown that came into effect on March 25. "It is not upto the Ministry of Civil Aviation or centre alone to decide on resuming domestic flights. In the spirit of cooperative federalism, the government of states where these flights will take off and land should be ready to allow civil aviation operations."

Meanwhile, The Airports Authority of India has also issued issued directives for passengers once flight operations resume. The authority says that that passengers need to mandatorily download the Aarogya Setu app, do a web-check in and carry a print out of their boarding pass before heading to the airport. Passengers must maintain a distance of four feet from co-passengers, wear a mask and other protective gear, wash or sanitise their hands frequently and carry a 350 ml bottle of sanitiser all the time, the AAI advised on Sunday.

It is worth mentioning here that the flight services have been suspended in India ever since the Government clamped a lockdown to mitigate a spread of the coronavirus starting March 25. The lockdown has now entered its fourth phase and some of the restrictions have been eased by the Government as it seeks to revive the economy that has greatly suffered due to the lockdown.