Domestic air travel: Centre caps domestic flight operations at 50% from today
The decision was taken in the wake of a sudden jump in the count of active coronavirus cases across the country.
FollowAirline companies can operate only 50% of their pre-Covid domestic flights from June 1 as opposed to the 80% allowed presently.
The decision was taken in the wake of a sudden jump in the count of active coronavirus cases across the country, passenger load factor (occupancy rate), and dip in passenger traffic, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in its order issued on Friday.
It had allowed the carriers to operate not more than 33% of their pre-Covid domestic services when the Centre restarted scheduled domestic flights in the country on May 25 last year following a two-month hiatus.
Meanwhile, the ministry has also raised the lower limit on fares by 13 to 16%.
The increase in airfares will come into effect from June 1, it said. The upper limits on fares remain unchanged. The move is aimed at helping the airlines amid a devastating second wave of Covid-19 which has reduced air travel significantly.
Meanwhile, the coronavirus-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till June 30.
"However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis," the aviation regulator DGCA added.
Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020, and under bilateral 'air bubble' arrangements with select countries since July 2020.
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