Uncertainty prevails over flight operations in India

As the country has gone under complete lockdown, Indian aviation is facing its most uncertain phase. All International and domestic flights were suspended to check the spread of novel coronavirus till April 15th. Though the airlines have started their booking services from April 16th, the government is yet to decide whether or not the lockdown will be eased.

New Delhi: Shubham Tiwari, an IT employee who works in Mysore had booked tickets for March 24th to reach his home in Kanpur, is now stuck in Bengaluru as he wasn't able to get the tickets before March 25th, the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown, and air, train and road transport were suspended.

"Now, I have booked my tickets for April 17th to reach home. The ticket prices are comparatively costlier, but now money doesn't matter to me, I just want to reach my home," said Tiwari.

The GoAir ticket booked on March 24th costs Rs 3,800, but the April 17 journey from the same airline has now shoot up to Rs 8,000, he added.

Experts say that at this stage, when the number of coronavirus cases are rising in India, the Centre may extend the suspension of flights.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, aviation expert Mark Martin said, "India should think collectively on resuming flights because this will not only effect government, it will effect the passengers, the cabin crew, the airport staff and everyone's life will be at risk."

Martin said China where the outbreak began, has now resumed all airlines, all airports are completely functioning and the virus is completely suppressed. The steps that China has taken India should also follow.

"As of now, we are allowing to book tickets for air travel starting April 15th, but things will get clear only after government review meeting that it will extend the lockdown or not," a leading travel agency spokesperson said.

Earlier this month, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said the current lockdown on both international and domestic flights is till April 15th.

"A decision to restart the flights after this period remains to be taken. If required, we will have to access the situation, a case-by-case basis," Puri had said.

Meanwhile, aviation consultancy firm Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) had on Thursday asked the government to review the sale of tickets from April 15th.

"The decision to allow opening of advance bookings from April 14th without a decision on lifting of the lockdown and likely structure of the transition period post the lockdown needs to be immediately reviewed as this is unfair to customers," the CAPA said in a statement.

Except Air India, all other airlines have been taking bookings for commercial passenger services from April 15th and the government may consider allowing flight operations in a staggered manner.

The top 10 airports in terms of passenger movement may be opened first, followed by those in other cities, government officials had said during the lockdown announcement.

To control the spread of coronavirus, standard operating procedure is being formulated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation which will make it mandatory for airlines to keep all middle seats and the last three rows empty to minimise contact.