Covid-19: Airlines shut bookings after DGCA order

IndiGo and Vistara have decided not to take any bookings till May 31, while GoAir and SpiceJet airlines are allowing to book tickets for travel from May 16.

New Delhi: Airline companies in the country have stopped bookings for travel from May 4, after aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday directed airlines to discontinue advance bookings till a final decision on lifting or easing restrictions on resuming air travel is announced.

IndiGo and Vistara have decided not to take any bookings till May 31 while GoAir and SpiceJet airlines are allowing to book tickets for travel from May 16.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday reiterated that no flights would operate until the spread of the novel coronavirus disease is controlled effectively by the government. The Minister said, "I want to once again say that flight restrictions that are in place as a result of India's fight against COVID19 will be lifted once we are confident that spread of the virus has been controlled & it poses no danger to our country & people."

The aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had on Sunday directed all airlines to refrain from booking tickets post lockdown and said that no decision has been taken to resume passenger flights from May 4 onwards. The circual also stated that the airlines will be given sufficient notice and time for restarting operations.

On Sunday, Vistara and other private airlines said that they have not received any notice from the aviation ministry on this matter. However, after the formal order, all airlines stopped bookings starting May 4 .

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday, had advised airlines to open bookings only after the government takes a decision on resuming passenger flight services. According to aviation experts, a minimum of 15 days advance notice should be given to the airlines so that they can successfully put their inventory on sale.

The first phase of the lockdown was from March 25 to April 14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14 extended the lockdown till May 3. All domestic and international commercial passenger flight operations have been suspended during the lockdown period.

Notably, airline stocks fell up to 5.5 per cent on Monday after regulator DGCA directed airlines to stop taking bookings for travel after May 3.