Centre caps domestic flight fares, minimum ticket price at 2000 and maximum at 18600

The Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday introduced a cap on home flight fares and issued seven bands of ticket pricing with decrease and higher fare limits. The first such band will encompass flights which can be of lower than 40 minutes period. The decrease and the higher fare limits for the primary band is Rs 2,000 and Rs 6,000, respectively.

The subsequent bands can be for flights with durations of 40-60 minutes, 60-90 minutes, 90-120 minutes, 120-150 minutes, 150-180 minutes and 180-210 minutes. The decrease and higher limits for these bands are: Rs 2,500-Rs 7,500; Rs 3,000-Rs 9,000; Rs 3,500-Rs 10,000; Rs 4,500-Rs 13,000; Rs 5,500-Rs 15,700 and Rs 6,500-Rs 18,600, respectively, the DGCA stated. 

After a two-month hiatus, one-third of the scheduled home flights can be flying from May 25 after the airways adhere to the government-prescribed limits on airfares categorised in seven bands based mostly on flight period.

Unveiling a set of detailed pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight tips on Thursday, the civil aviation ministry suggested individuals susceptible just like the aged, pregnant girls and passengers battling well being points to keep away from air journey until the coronavirus pandemic abates.

All passengers must present their medical particulars by way of the Aarogya Setu app or by filling up a self-declaration type, whereas these residing in containment zones is not going to be allowed to journey, the ministry added.

Noting that every one stakeholders similar to airways, airports have cooperated, Puri stated, “Operations will start on 1/3 of the approved Summer schedule for domestic routes in a calibrated manner from May 25 and will be scaled up gradually. After domestic travel has been eased, we will address the issue of international travel depending on the evolving situation.”

The minister stated social distancing norms is not going to be carried out even when center seats are saved vacant on flights. “Therefore, we have decided not to keep middle seats vacant,” he stated.

The routes within the seven sectors are:

 

India was one of many first international locations to impose stringent journey restrictions, together with banning all worldwide passenger flights on March 25 because the nation was put underneath lockdown to include the unfold of coronavirus. The minister additionally asserted that the lockdown has been efficient and that India’s coronavirus-related fatality figures are one of many lowest on the earth.

As per the Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs), all passengers must do internet check-in as bodily check-in counters at airports is not going to be useful. The guidelines embody no meals onboard, obligatory temperature checks for all passengers and permitting just one check-in bag for every passenger. People who have been examined positive for COVID-19 is not going to be allowed to journey. All the passengers must put on masks whereas coming into the airports and thereafter.

Passengers must report back to airports two hours earlier than flights are scheduled to depart they usually must strictly comply with social distancing guidelines. The authorities’s choice to permit home air journey comes days after the federal government relaxed norms permitting financial actions to renew in a bid to revive the financial system that has been hit arduous by the coronavirus lockdown.

Airports have been suggested to earmark areas for isolation in addition to to hold out COVID-19 testing of suspected passengers. According to the rules, the airports must guarantee straightforward availability of hand sanitisers in any respect entry factors and at numerous touchpoints.

The ministry additionally allowed resumption of providers by all meals and drinks (F&B) shops on the situation that they have to comply with all COVID-19 precautions. “Take-away, digital payments, self-ordering booths at F&B and retail outlets to be encouraged to prevent crowding of people,” it stated.