40% New SOP: Web check-in, 1 bag in cabin, avoid using lavatories

NEW DELHI: India will reopen air travel on 383 routes across the country after a two-month gap, the government announced on Thursday, but allowed one-third of the operations beginning May 25 and set limits on fares that airlines can charge in the initial phase of this critical unlocking of swift long-distance travel.

Civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri said the government has identified seven bands based on flight durations, while announcing a set of norms for airlines and guidelines for passengers that outline how air travel is set to change in India in the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak. The fares — consistent for each band — will be capped till at least August 24.

“[Because of the lockdown] we have been able to escape the situation other countries have found themselves in. [But] it is equally important that at some stage you will have to open up. Two months is a very long time...you have to balance between lives and livelihood; it is time to now open up,” Puri said at a press conference.

According to DGCA data, flights in the first phase will operate on all routes, taking off from 35 origin cities and landing in 39 destination airports. “The central government hereby directs that domestic civil flight operations are permitted from 25 May, 2020 to a limited extent... For operations from Metro to Metro cities, One-Third capacity of the approved Summer Schedule...,” the civil aviation ministry said in an order on Thursday.

of tickets for each flight have to be sold at a price less than the median of the range given by the govt. This means, some tickets for the Delhi-Mumbai flight – which falls in ~3,500-10,000 range – will have to be sold for a price around ~6,700

NEW DELHI: Report at least two hours before departure, declare health status at the airport, complete the check-in process online, travel light and minimise use of the toilets once inside the flight — these are just few of the guidelines the government issued for air travel on Thursday.

The rules advised passengers to carry just one cabin baggage and one check-in baggage, and said there will be no meal on board.

In addition, “very elderly, pregnant ladies, passengers with health issues” have been asked to avoid air travel. A person residing in a containment zone will not be allowed inside the airport, the guidelines said.

Before boarding the flight, passengers will be provided with a safety kit — containing a mask, a face shield and a sanitizer — by their airlines. No meal services will be allowed in the aircraft but water bottles will be available. Air crew will be in protective gear, the guidelines said.