Govt allows domestic airlines to increase number of passenger flights to 45 %

After reviewing the current status of domestic flights operations, the government allowed domestic airlines to increase their number of passenger flights to 45 per cent of their pre-COVID capacity. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had restarted domestic passenger services from May 25, after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

New Delhi: The government on Friday allowed domestic airlines to increase their number of passenger flights to 45 per cent of their pre-COVID capacity.

Government sources told ETV Bharat that the decision has been taken after a review of the current status of domestic flights operations as compared to the demand for air travel.

Meanwhile, Willy Boutler, CCO, IndiGo, addressing a webinar on Friday said that despite challenges in Indian aviation there are positives.

Passengers are able to travel safely across the country for lower fares in real terms than a decade ago, he said.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said that flights fares will be regulated and will be in a fixed range with minimum and maximum fare already set for the route.

Notably, the first month of domestic flight resumption has seen around 19 lakh passengers within the country.

Puri on Friday said that from May 25 to June 25, 18.8 lakh passengers travelled on about 21,300 flights.

The Aviation Minister had earlier said, "Once the domestic flights are scaled up to around 55 per cent, we can start thinking about the resumption of international flight operations."

The Ministry of Civil Aviation had restarted domestic passenger services from May 25, after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown. However, the airlines were allowed to operate only one-third of their pre-COVID capacity.