Domestic flight operations likely to resume by May 18

According to sources, the government is likely to allow airline companies to resume domestic flight operations by 18 May. The government has proposed to make it mandatory for flyers to have Aarogya Setu installed on their mobile phones, developed to track COVID-19 patients.

New Delhi: A day after announcing a partial resumption of train services from Tuesday, sources in the government have told ETV Bharat that flight operations are also likely to resume in a phased manner from May 18.

According to sources, a high-level committee comprising DGCA officials, CISF, Airport authority officials including AAI and DIAL officers on Monday inspected preparedness for the resumption of services at the Delhi International Airport.

"Preparations are in full swing to restart the domestic flying operations in the Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports, however, a final call on the date is expected to be taken after the meeting of PM Narendra Modi with the Chief Ministers of all states and UTs," sources said.

The government has proposed to make it mandatory for flyers to have Aarogya Setu installed on their mobile phones, developed to track COVID-19 patients. Apart from that flyers will also be asked to ensure that they are wearing masks, face shields and gloves.

Meanwhile, in order to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the Delhi airport has started using ultraviolet rays to disinfect trolleys and passenger's baggage.

"The mobile towers are placed in properly cordoned areas of a terminal and the UV lamps inside them are used for disinfection," the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said in a statement on Monday.

DIAL has also installed UV tunnel at terminal 3 that will help in disinfection of passenger bags. It has developed a state-of-the-art facility that will disinfect all the trolleys using disinfectant and trays with UV before being used by passengers.

Earlier, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had said that once the airports would reopen long queues would not be allowed, people shall be asked to reach the airport well before the normal time, whereas baggage entitlement might be reduced and meal services may be stopped.

Notably, the Central Industrial Security Force has already submitted a plan to the Aviation Ministry stating that when flight operation resumes "passengers reaching timing at the airport two hours before their flight timing with proper protective gear i.e., mask, gloves, and sanitisers."

All commercial passenger flight operations have been suspended for the lockdown period. On March 19, the DGCA had announced that no international commercial passenger flight operations will take place in India from 1.30 am on March 23, while domestic flight operations were ceased from March 24.

However, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights and special flights approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation have been allowed to operate.