Will try to start a good percentage of international flights before August: Aviation Min

In a major development, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on Saturday, revealed that by August-September, a 'good percent' of international flights will begin operation. He added that while he is aiming to start international flights from mid-June, as per ongoing rate of growth in Coronavirus infections, ministry is confident that a fair number of international flights will commence operation by August. Currently, India is gearing to commence domestic flights operation on May 25.

Centre sets minimum, maximum fares for 3 months as domestic flights resume from 25 May

International flights by August-September

"Will try to start good percent of international passenger flights before August. If by n, t full international aviation, n definitely a good percent of international flights will run.  If situation eases and we are able to make preparations, we must have an ambitious goal by mid June. re's contradiction between domestic flights beginning from May 25 and lockdown in India being imposed till May 31," said Puri in a press briefing.

'Domestic flight operations to run at 1/3rd capacity of summer schedule':Aviation Minister

Centre commences domestic flights

On Wednesday, after anuncing commencement of domestic air flights, Puri said that re will be new fare structure to keep flight travel affordable. He said that for this fare structure sets a minimum and maximum level for three months - for e.g. Delhi-Mumbai flight fare will be set Rs 3500 and maximum level at Rs 10000. Flight routes had been divided into 7 sections-flying times of fewer than 40 minutes, from 40 to 60 minutes, 60-90 minutes, 90-120 minutes, 120-150 minutes, 150-180 minutes and from 180 to 210 minutes.  

Moroever, Puri anunced  that domestic flight operations shall be restricted to 1/3rd capacity of approved summer schedule 2020. He explained capacity for three categories of operations- metro to metro cities, metro to n-metro cities, and n-metro-n-metro cities. Puri elaborated that metro cities imply Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. This order shall continue till 23.59 hours on August 24, 2020, from May 25 onwards.  SOPs for passengers and crew have been released.

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India under lockdown

On Sunday, Centre anunced extension of India's nationwide Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown till May 31.   Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has released its detailed guidelines for extended lockdown, allowing delineation of red, green and orange zones as per state and UT governments, taking Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) into consideration. Since n, several states have released ir own state guidelines - most easing lockdown. Currently, India has 1,25,101 cases, with 51,784 recoveries and 3720 deaths.

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