Domestic flights from Monday - MAY 25th

[Kool_SRG]

Late on Wednesday night, the Ministry of Home Affairs amended its guidelines on lock down measures by deleting “domestic air travel of passengers” from the list of prohibited activities. On Sunday, framing the rules for the fourth phase of the national lock down, it had banned domestic passenger flights until May 31.

 

 

[Kool_SRG]

[Kool_SRG]

Domestic Flights From Monday, Minister Says Middle Seats Can't Be Vacant

Flights were stopped in late-March when the government took various measures to slow the spread of corona virus.

New Delhi:

Domestic passenger flights will resume from Monday "in a calibrated manner", the government said today. There may be fewer flights but Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said "it is not viable" to keep middle seat vacant as ticket prices would shoot up. Sources say the government has discussed capping air fares.

Flights were stopped in late March, when the country went into lock down to slow the spread of corona virus.

"Domestic civil aviation operations will recommence in a calibrated manner from Monday 25th May 2020. All airports and air carriers are being informed to be ready for operations from 25th May," tweeted Mr Puri.

SOPs for passenger movement and details of flights are expected to be announced tomorrow when the minister briefs the media.

While the government as well as airlines have talked about a "new normal" when flights start again, with fewer passengers in a flight, Mr Puri made it clear that it would not be possible to keep the middle seat vacant, which had been one of the suggestions for ensuring physical distancing to avoid the infection.

"It's not viable to keep the middle seat vacant. Even if you keep the middle seat vacant you'll still have a situation where the prescribed distance for social distancing isn't followed. If you were to do it then you've to hike up airline ticket price by 33 per cent," the minister was quoted as telling news agency ANI.

 

Airports have started preparing for flights in the time of COVID-19.

Its has been learnt that starting from entry gate to alighting point everything check would be contactless and physical distancing in food areas will be enforced.

Airport authorities are also in talks with cab aggregators on a "sticker system" to indicate that the vehicle is ready and sanitized for passenger use.

The government has not indicated when international travel will restart.

Most airports are already functional as cargo flights, those for medical evacuation and special flights to repatriate Indians stranded abroad have been operating during the lock down.

Earlier, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced lockdown4 with incremental easing of restrictions, aviation regulator DGCA had asserted that scheduled commercial passenger flights would stay suspended till May 31.

Yesterday, the minister had tweeted that it was not upto the central government alone to decide on when domestic flights could restart.

"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," Hardeep Puri had tweeted on Tuesday.

Sources say Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was among those reluctant to begin flights again, because Mumbai, one of the busiest destinations, has the most number of virus cases among cities. Mr Thackeray is reportedly now on board with the idea.

Airlines have suffered huge losses since various countries stopped flights in their fight against the pandemic. India first blocked the entry of people from abroad and then stopped flights altogether as it went into total lock down.

 

 

[Kool_SRG]

HOW WILL AIR TRAVEL CHANGE?

Filling up of a detailed questionnaire related to Covid-19, carrying no cabin baggage, using Aarogya Setu app and reaching the airport at least two hours before a flight departure might well be among the requirements for air passengers during the initial phase after the resumption of commercial flights.

Union minister Hardeep Puri had previously outlined some of the changes that will be witnessed in air travel keeping in mind Covid-19 precautions. "Now we won't be able to permit queues at airports. Maybe you will have to print your boarding pass from home and passengers may have to arrive at the airport before the scheduled time. Even several airport procedures may have to be reduced. We may allow just one bag per person. The meal service also might be restricted. We have developed a strategy and will finalise this soon," he had explained.

Cabin crew members of Indian airlines will have personal protective equipment (PPE) like face shields, gowns and masks as part of their attire on commercial passenger flights when they resume operations, industry sources said.

India has been under lock down since March 25 to curb the spread of corona virus. All commercial passenger flights have remained suspended for this period.

However, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights and special flights to repatriate Indian citizens had been operating during this period.

[Kool_SRG]

AAI’s new SOP for domestic air travel

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued a new SOP for airports for recommencement of domestic flights.

• Passengers must compulsorily walk through the thermal screening zone before entering airport terminal building.
• Airport operators must make appropriate arrangements for sanitisation of passengers' baggage before entry into the terminal building.
• State governments and administrations must ensure availability of public transport and private taxies for providing connectivity to the airport for passengers and airport/airline staff.
• Passengers should reach the airport two hours before the scheduled time of departure.
• Passengers who have departure in the next four hours will only be allowed to enter the airport terminal building.
• All passengers are required to wear protective gears such as masks and gloves.

[Kool_SRG]

Airports authority announces SOPs for domestic flights

The Airports Authority of India has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to all its airports for recommencement of domestic commercial flight operations from 25 May. As per the guidelines, all passengers must compulsorily be registered with the Aarogya Setu app on their phones. Children below 14 years have been exempted.

As per the guidelines, the passengers must compulsorily walk through thermal screening zone on city side before entering airport terminal building and all the airports have been asked to make appropriate arrangement for sanitisation of passengers' baggage before entry into the terminal building

 

 

 

[JambaKrantu]

Ade chetto international flights kooda start cheyyandra babu, year end varaku WFH undi happy ga velli family to time spend chesta

[Kool_SRG]

Private airlines will join the evacuation process soon, says Hardeep Puri

Union Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday while addressing the media announced some key points which are given below:

• First phase of Vande Bharat Mission has seamlessly paved the way for second phase
• Some countries are not allowing people to travel abroad 
• Private airlines will join the evacuation process soon
• Lifeline UDAAN flights carried 900 tonnes of essential goods

[Kool_SRG]

Airline routes divided into 7 routes

Union Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the ministry has divided all airline routes in seven sections.

• 1st section: Upto 40 min
• 2nd section: 40 upto 60 min
• 3rd section: 60-90 min
• 4th section: 90-120 min
• 5th section: 120-150 min
• 6th section: 150-180 min
• 7th section: 180-210 min

[Prince_Fan]

mundu consulates open cheyyandra