No meals on flights under 2 hrs: Centre

NEW DELHI: As Covid-19 cases continue to surge across the country, the civil aviation ministry directed domestic airlines on Monday to not serve meals on flights with a duration of less than two hours beginning April 15.

“The airlines, operating on domestic sectors, may provide meal services on board, wherein the flight duration is two hours or more,” said the ministry, issuing a set of new guidelines for airlines on Monday.

On Sunday, India added 152,879 new cases in a single day, taking its overall tally of cases to 13,358,805. On the day, 839 people died from Covid-19.

Highlighting “the increasing threat of Covid-19 and its variants”, the ministry ordered the airlines to serve pre-packaged meals with disposable cutlery and plates on flights longer than two hours. “Airlines may serve pre-packed snacks/meals/ pre-packed beverages as per the policy of the Airlines, where in the flight duration is two hours or more, subject to the following conditions: In all classes, tray set-up, plates and cutlery will be completely disposable with no reuse, or cleaned and disinfected rotatable will be used,” it said. “In all classes, tea/coffee/alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage services will be in disposable cans/containers/ bottles/ glasses. There will be no pouring service and beverages will be served in single use disposable units,” it said, adding that the crew must wear a fresh set of gloves for every meal or beverage service.The central government allowed domestic flights to resume with limited capacity from May 25 last year after suspending them due to the Covid-19 outbreak. It subsequently allowed in-flight meals with some Covid-19 protocols.