The government has announced that the domestic passenger flights will resume operations from Monday.
The airplanes which were flying within and outside the country were stopped mid-march when the country underwent the nation-wide lockdown. However, today, the Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri tweeted, “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.”
He has also added that the SOPs for passenger movement will be issued separately.
Domestic civil aviation operations will recommence in a calibrated manner from Monday 25th May 2020.
All airports & air carriers are being informed to be ready for operations from 25th May.
SOPs for passenger movement are also being separately issued by @MoCA_GoI.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 20, 2020
However, when the operations resume, a ‘new normal’ will be followed. Flights will carry fewer passengers, who will be mandated to wear masks. Adding to the safety precautions, the middle seat will be left empty in order to maintain social distancing.
"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, tweeted on Tuesday.
Earlier last week, when Prime Minister Modi announced Lockdown 4.0, it was believed that the flights will remain suspended until May 31. However, Hardeep Puri had previously clarified saying that it was not just up to the central government to decide when the domestic flights could restart.
