Aviation sector showed resilience in bouncing back post-covid: Scindia
TORONTO: The way Indian civil aviation has bounced back post Covid-19 shows its resilience and determination, Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday in Quebec .
The minister is marking the first bilateral visit to Canada by a member of PM Narendra Modi’s Cabinet in over two years.
Speaking at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) headquarters, Scindia said: “The way Indian civil aviation has bounced back post Covid-19 with all protocols in place, shows its resilience and determination. With a robust and holistic plan for the future, we are sure, we will set new milestones in air, soon.”
The Centre had banned all international scheduled flights for a week starting March 23, 2020. The ban stretched for nearly two years in the midst of a raging pandemic. However, special international flights were allowed to operate between India and 37 other countries from July 2020 under an air bubble arrangement.
On March 8 this year, the Centre announced the resumption of routine international flight operations from March 27.
Scindia, who arrived in Montreal on Monday for a three-day visit, said the aviation industry was witnessing an “almost V-shaped recovery”.
“Pre-covid, the maximum number of passengers per day in India was roughly 400,000. Ten days ago, we touched the figure of 407,000. In the last 10 days, it has been oscillating between 350,000 and 390,000,” he said.
The minister said India is working on making its airport carbon-neutral. “India is working towards making its airports carbon neutral in the near future so as to emerge as a responsible player in the international civil aviation industry,” he said.
Scinida’s visit on Monday began with a celebration of the 75th anniversary of India’s accession to the ICAO in Quebec.