COVID-19: Domestic Flights Resume In India Except In Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal

Elderly, pregnant ladies and kids have been advised to avoid air travel for now.

NEW DELHI: Domestic flights in the country resumed operations today, except in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the flight operations from Vijaywada and Vizag airports in Andhra Pradesh will begin tomorrow, while those in West Bengal will recommence from Thursday on a limited scale.

In Chennai, there will be a maximum of 25 arrivals but there is no limit on the number of departures. For other airports in Tamil Nadu, flights will operate as in other parts of the country, Puri tweeted.

The minister also said that there will be limited flight operations from Mumbai in Maharashtra.

Flight operations had been shut in the country two months ago owing to the nationwide lockdown necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Chairman of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Arvind Singh told state-owned news media that the airports in the country are fully prepared for the flight operations.

He informed that all arrangements have been made at the airports to ensure contact-less boarding to prevent any chances of contagion.

Commercial passenger flights at the Delhi airport will initially operate from Terminal 3.

According to standard operating procedure issued by Airport Authority of India, passengers should reach airport two hours before the scheduled time of departure and only passengers who have departure in next four hours will be allowed to enter the terminal building.

The passengers will have to wear protective gear such as gloves and masks while entering the airport.

All passengers, except children below 14 years, must be registered on the Aarogya Setu app and it will be verified at the entry gate of the terminal building.

Passengers shall compulsorily walk through screening zone for thermal screening before entering the terminal building. Airport operators have been asked to make arrangements for sanitization of a passenger’s baggage before entry into the terminal building.

Elderly, pregnant ladies and kids have been advised to avoid air travel for now.

Only one check-in and one hand baggage are allowed and the use of trolley is restricted.