Govt. says upper and lower limits on airfares may be extended beyond 24 August

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said in the wake of pandemic domestic private carriers have been offered to operate 750 repatriation flights in third and fourth phases of Vande Bharat Mission: Aviation Minister.

Air India has planned 300 flights under phase-3, phase-4 of Vande Bharat Mission, he said at a press briefing.

"Close to 2,75,000 Indians, who were stranded in foreign countries, have been brought back to the country in flights and ships during the lockdown," the minister said.

About domestic flight operations, Puri said India is not able to carry out 33% capacity of its operations yet and that maximum daily traffic seen so far was 72,000 passengers.

Puri said 33% limit will be arrived at when day by day traveler traffic arrives at 100,000. 

"Will think about universal flights once residential air traffic arrives at 50-55% limit," Puri said. He further said fringe acknowledgment, section limitations, isolate conditions are elements to be considered in universal flights. 

Section into US, UK, Brazil, UAE, Singapore is contingent and a few nations are permitting passage to just their residents, said Puri. 

"Any proposal that global traffic has opened up and we are the only one



not to open up needs a rude awakening. Precisely when we will continue universal flight relies upon when different nations will be available to get flights," said Puri. 

"Without a choice on resumption of worldwide common flying, which will rely upon different nations opening up, we are left with no choice yet to proceed with what I call departure and repatriation trips under oversaw and controlled conditions," Puri further said.

The minister said he expects Indian aviation to resume pre-virus levels anywhere between Diwali and end of the year. He also said that he is confident, and optimistic about Air India divestment more than ever.

"If international operations have to start, both ends have to be ready and there has to be traffic. There is a significant amount of traffic between India and North American continent. We may think of opening flights on a case-to-case basis," said Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola.

Upper and lower limits on airfares may be extended beyond 24 August depending on how Covid-19 situation pans out, said Kharola.

Almost all passengers are getting their boarding passes at home. Entire boarding process has been made contact-free and process of baggage drop has been contactless," Kharola further said.