Domestic Flights to Resume from May 25: Heres All You Need to Know

After a lot of speculation over recommencing of domestic flights, Aviation Minister Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri announced that operations for Domestic Civil Aviation will resume from May 25, 2020. The news has come as a big relief for people stranded in different parts of the country. Along with the trains, now flights will also ply people to their destinations.

Photo of Domestic Flights to Resume from May 25: Here's All You Need to Know 1/3 by Tanushekha Agnihottri

On Wednesday, Aviation Minister took to Twitter to disclose the decision and has instructed Airports and Air carriers to be ready for the operations from May 25. It is expected that only 30% of the scheduled flights will get operational. Initially, big cities will have better connectivity and other routes will be opened up in a calibrated manner.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has finalised its standard operating procedures for the airports as well as passengers. All the airlines will need to make arrangements to ensure that the risk of transmission of the dreaded coronavirus is minimised. The passengers too will have to adhere to the new guidelines in order to ensure that they have a smooth flying experience.

Photo of Domestic Flights to Resume from May 25: Here's All You Need to Know 2/3 by Tanushekha Agnihottri — (C) Wikipedia

Here are the new rules issued by AAI for the passengers:

1. Except for children below 14 years of age, it is mandatory for all passengers to download Aarogya Setu app on their phones.

2. Those who don’t show ‘green’ on Aarogya Setu will not be allowed to enter airport.

3. The passenger need to certify the status of their health through the Aarogya Setu App or a self-declaration form.

4. Only private vehicles or selected authorised taxi/transport services with restricted seating will be permitted to enter the airport.

5. Passengers will now have to reach the airport two hours before the flight time. They will be allowed to enter the terminal building only if their flights are departing in the next four hours.

6. Passengers will have to go through a thermal screening zone before entering into the terminal building.

7. Everyone—passengers as well as airport employees—will have to mandatorily wear face masks and maintain social distancing at airports.

8. Passengers' luggage will need to be sanitised by the airport authority before entering the airport.

9. No trolleys will be allowed unless absolutely necessary.

Photo of Domestic Flights to Resume from May 25: Here's All You Need to Know 3/3 by Tanushekha Agnihottri

The airports and the airline carriers too will have maintain the following guidelines:

1. Mats and carpets soaked with bleach would be placed at the entrance of all airports for disinfection of shoes.

2. The in-flight seating arrangement will be done as per social distancing norms.

2. Boarding and deboarding of the passengers will be done in batches to avoid crowding.

4. There should be constant announcements about social distancing and other norms in airports.

5. All check-in counters will open sooner to avoid crowding and 'alternate' check-in counters to be set up, wherever possible.

6. Boarding to commence 60 minutes before departure.

The government has also put a cap to the air fares for the next three months in order to ensure affordability. The price range of a Delhi-Mumbai flight ticket is kept between Rs 3,500-Rs 10,000.

These rules and regulations might feel like a tad too much in the beginning. But these guidelines are also needed to ensure that we keep outbreak to a minimum. But one thing is true for sure. Flying in the post-COVID world will not be the same. It is a whole different place altogether!