Fewer flights will take to sky today

States reluctantly agree to allow limited number of flights with Centre’s guidelines

There will be very limited operation of domestic flights beginning Monday between metros such as Mumbai and Hyderabad. Maharashtra has reportedly agreed to 25 departures and arrivals from Mumbai.

“It has been a long day of hard negotiations with various state governments to recommence civil aviation operations in the country. Except Andhra Pradesh which will start on 26/5 & West Bengal on 28/5, domestic flights will recommence across the country from tomorrow,” tweeted minister of state for civil aviation (independent charge) Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday.

There will be 15 departures and arrivals from Hyderabad starting Monday.

There was confusion about the different protocols in states with some insisting on institutional quarantine of arriving passengers. Airlines revised their schedules after consultations with the civil aviation ministry. Airlines and passengers booked to fly on Monday were in a state of confusion and many passengers were resigned to being told that their flights were cancelled or merged with another flight. Meanwhile, the health ministry issued domestic travel guidelines, stipulating that only asymptomatic (not showing Covid19 symptoms) passengers will be allowed to travel after thermal screening at the departure point. On arrival, the passengers will be thermally screened at the exit point. Those found asymptomatic will be allowed to go home with the advice to “selfmonitor their health for 14 days”.

Those displaying mild symptoms will be given the option of home quarantine or isolation at a Covid centre while those displaying moderate or severe symptoms will be sent to a Covid care centre. Passengers have been “advised” to download the Aarogya Setu app.