Capacity restrictions removed for domestic flights

Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to restore the scheduled domestic air operations from October18 without any capacity restriction. On October 9, airlines operated 2,340 flights, or 71.5 per cent of their combined pre-COVID capacity. The decision was taken after the review of the current status of scheduled domestic operators and passengers’ demand for air travel. The Ministry said, the airlines and airport operators shall however ensure that the guidelines to contain the spread of Covid 19 are strictly adhered to and Covid appropriate behavior is strictly enforced by them during the travel.

Earlier this month credit ratings agency ICRA said domestic air passenger traffic increased by two to three pre cent between August and September - up from 67 lakh to 69 lakh. In September the government had increased capacity restrictions from 72.5 per cent to 85 per cent.The government resumed domestic flight operations in May last year after a two-month break.Airlines were initially allowed to operate a maximum of 33 per cent of all pre-Covid routes.The pandemic and the lockdown (both domestic and international) affected the aviation sector badly, with airlines losing billions of dollars. However, with the easing of caseloads and a gradual resurgence of the economy.