Aviation: Centre allows airlines to increase numbers, capacity of domestic flights

Mumbai: With the Covid-19 infections decreasing across India, the Centre has green-signalled airline companies to increase the capacity and number of operational domestic flights to make the sector vibrant again.

Like other industries, the aviation sector had also suffered huge losses due to the ongoing pandemic which forced the government to impose severe restrictions.

With the pandemic protocol being relatively eased, domestic air travel has significantly increased in the past few weeks. The Airport Authority of India posted a notice on social media with the caption, “Attention Travellers! Considering the increasing passengers’ demand for domestic air travel, the capacity of domestic civil aviation operations will be increased to 65 per cent from 50 per cent from the date of issue of this order up to July 31, 2021, or until further orders.”

It is, however, mandatory to follow corona protocols like wearing a mask and maintaining a social distance while travelling by air.

A few months ago, the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had announced to fine those violating the Covid-19 protocols at the airports.

Although the number of cases due to the pandemic’s second wave have declined, the government has also warned the people of a possible third wave and asked them to strictly follow the protocols.

(Avya Mathur)