Puri: Will decide on int’l flights after curbs end

NEWDELHI: The civil aviation ministry is clear that the 21-day nationwide lockdown (due to the Covid-19 pandemic) will cease in mid-April, after which the resumption of international flights will be considered on a case-by-case basis, Union civil aviation Hardeep Puri said on Thursday.

The lockdown suspending railways, road and air transport was announced by the Union government on March 25 for three weeks till April 15. All domestic and international flights stand suspended till then. “The government has to examine this, both the health ministry and the home ministry will have to take a holistic view on the fact that when conditions become safe in other countries, we can think of opening the international flights,” ministry of civil aviation secretary Pradeep Kharola said.

Puri also said incoming flights to bring Indians back home will have to remain suspended for now. “We have a lockdown for the next 15 days, and any incoming flights to bring Indians back home will have to await the lifting of the lockdown,” Puri said. “But in so far as the lockdown is concerned, the lockdown is till April 15, and we can start considering the resumption of (international) flights, on a case by case basis, dependent on where they are coming from after that.”

He said airlines can begin advance bookings as per their own discretion. “...we are proceeding as a ministry on the basis and on the understanding that the lockdown is till mid-April.”