India is letting domestic flights to resume on 383 routes from Monday even as many states and even passengers contemplate if that’s a wise move.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has allowed domestic flights to resume on 383 routes across Inida but has also set capacity limits and a whole new set of guidelines to be followed from 2th May, 2020, when the flights will take off for the first time after a 2-month hiatus.

As the country prepares to fly again, there still remain many apprehensions in the minds of frequent flyers as well as staff that will be handling the travelers. Then, there are those who are still not convinced that resuming flights is a good idea at all given the circumstances.

What was the initial decision of MHA regarding domestic flights resumption?

The government’s initial decision was to prohibit commercial air travel at least till the 31^st of May, 2020, even when man airlines were continuously pursuing them to allow domestic flights. To top it up, there was no clarity on the guidelines set by MHA and whether there was any plan to resume domestic flights at all.

What made the government decide to allow domestic flights to resume?

Considering the bleak future if airlines owing to the indecisiveness of the government to rovide some form of assurance or assistance, many airline representatives met the civil aviation ministry officials expressing their disappointment and the fact that the jobs of many who worked with them were are stake. In a way, they informed them about the mass scale job sacking that would follow in the coming months. Selling off the fleet of airbuses to pay debts was also on the cards. They also questioned why trains could operate between ‘red zones’ and aeroplanes couldn’t even when they were in a better position to follow safety norms.

Apparently, one of the airlines had already sent an email to it’s employees informing them of impending closure given present circumstances.

3 million airline jobs were at risk

A report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), revealed that the ongoing crisis in the aviation sector was putting around 3 million jobs at risk. The fact that the revenues had slumped to zero since March, sacking of employees, selling off fleets and permanent closures were imminent actions that airline carriers were forced to contemplate.

The government was made aware of the situation very recently as airlines once again pleaded to allow domestic flights to resume.

The civil aviation ministry’s concern for the impending job losses made them discuss the matter further with the PMO. What followed was an appeal by the ministry to the states to allow domestic flights to resume. Following next was the decision to allow domestic flights to resume from 25^th May, 2020. However, the decision to participate was left in the hands of individual states.

Airlines not entirely happy about the conditions domestic flights are resuming under

Though airlines are relieved by the fact that the government has at least given a push to the sector in a manner of saying, they are not entirely happy about the conditions that have been made compulsory.

To be precise, domestic flights are resuming under highly conditional measures. To top it up, the airfare rates and routes decided by the government has not gone down so well with many of the airlines. Then they have been burdened with upgrading their systems to make provisions like SMS receipts to passengers upon checking in of their baggage.

Feasibility of flights between ‘Green Zones’ and ‘Red Zones’

Even as major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad remain hot spots or ‘Red Zones’, flights may operate between these and the “Green Zones’ considering the economic prospects among other reasons. The pressing matter is that several state governments had been concerned about resuming flights owing to the rising numbers of coronavirus cases in the country.

To be precise, the ‘Green Zones’ are apprehensive of letting people to fly into their territories from the ‘Red Zones’ and increase the possibility of spreading the infection in any manner.

Frequent flyers are wary of the situation and are still questioning the feasibility of the plan to resume flights

Subham Sharma, a frequent flyer, who often travels to different states is still not convinced.

“It is understood that the government wants to ease down flying restrictions and is trying to bring things back to normal but the fact remains – the coronavirus crisis is still ongoing and there seems to be no respite. I am not sure if I would like to travel to any areas marked as ‘red zones’ or share a flight with passengers flying in from ‘red zones’ at any given moment. It is just not advisable at the moment.”

Also read: 7 Domestic Flight sectors and Govt-fixed airfare rates

Also read: Domestic flights to resume with these set of rules

Following guidelines at airports and in the flight is a tricky task

Flyers believe that even though the government is geared up to make people follow a strict set of guidelines, there will be many instances where they won’t be able to do so.  

Nitin Jadhav, another frequent flyer who travels for business, shares, “It is good that there are new rules to be followed, but who will ensure that they are being followed at the airport and within the flights. There can be technical glitches, manual errors, sheer ignorance of passengers or even staff, and many such things that the authority will have to deal with. They will have to ensure that nothing of that sort happens. The thermal machine could break down or gives out false readings. Much will be at risk in such a scenarios many travelling could be asymptomatic and that could expose others to a high risk.”

Even as the debate continues, many airlines are gearing up to open bookings, with Air India already having started the booking process. Other airlines are joining in with carriers like IndiGo, Vistara and SpiceJet already in the process of accepting bookings on their official websites.  

India Domestic Flights will resume from Monday with only one-third of the original capacity and a whole new set of mandatory rules

As airlines prepare to commence flights from Monday, 25 May, 2020, we sum up just about every rule and regulation that has been made mandatory for airports, airlines and passengers.

Domestic flights: New Guidelines by the DGCA

• Passengers residing in ‘red zones’ or containment zones, will not be allowed to travel at all
• Elderly people, pregnant women, and people with health issues will be advised not to travel much as a preventive measure for their own sake.
• Web check-in will be the only way to enter airport premises
• All passengers will be screened thermally at the entry gate of the airport
• Airlines to provide a safety kit including three-layered surgical masks, a face shield and sanitisers to all their passengers at the boarding gates.
• Passengers will not be allowed to make use of chairs marked ‘not for use’ in any way
• Only one check-in bag will be allowed in with a passenger
• All airports will be required to make announcements, constantly reminding passengers and staff to follow the guidelines
• Aarogya Setu app and ‘green status check’ is mandatory for all passengers.
• Those marked ‘red’ won’t on the app be allowed to travel
• Children below 14 years won’t need to be marked on the app
• All passengers will be required to board planes in batches, always maintaining the required social distance.
• As once debated, the middle seats in aeroplanes will not be kept vacant
• The cabin crew will have to be covered up in full protective suits
• Though Food/beverages outlets will remain open inside the airport terminal building passengers will have to follow social distancing and other protocols
• No in-flight food will be provided by the airlines. However, water bottles will have to be made available by the airlines, preferably on the seats
• Passengers will not be allowed to eat anything that they carry along with them inside the aircraft
• The use of the lavatory and moving around in the aisles will have to be minimized
• Cabin crew will have to ensure that they clean and sanitise the lavatories every one hour during the flight and clear all seat pockets of all unnecessary items except the safety card, which will have to either sanitised or replaced after the flight ends
• No newspaper or magazine will be provided by the airlines
• The use of trolleys will be limited or allowed only if necessary
• After landing, the baggage will be released in batches and in a staggered order on the arrival carousel
• Social distance markings shaped as circles or squares will be marked around the baggage collection carousel
• Passenger will have to leave the airport in airport-authorised taxis/vehicles

Also read: 7 Domestic Flight sectors and Govt-fixed airfare rates

Also read: Is it a good idea to resume domestic flights as infections keep rising?

The above mentioned rules sum up just about everything that will be an integral part of air travel for a long time.

The India government has capped airfare rates based on flight durations and the newl set rates will be applicable on all airlines from 25 May, 2020

As domestic flights in India prepare to resume from Monday, 25 May, travelers need to note down the classification of their domestic travel destinations and the airfare applicable on them.

Airfare to be based on Government set rates till 24^th August

All airlines will be charging as per the new range of minimum and maximum ticket prices set by the government for all routes and continue to do so till at least 24^th August, 2020. The prices are between Rs. 2000 to Rs. 18600.  As informed, 40% of the tickets in all bands will be sold at a price less than the mid-point (of the lower and upper limits).

7 sectors based on flight durations, and ticket prices

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has identified seven bands based on flight durations:

• (Sector A) Flights with duration of less than 40 minutes

Minimum fare: Rs 2,000 | Maximum fare: Rs 6,000

• (Sector B) Flights with journey time of 40-60 minutes

Minimum fare: Rs 2,500 | Maximum fare: Rs 7,500

• (Sector C) Flights with duration of 60-90 minutes

Minimum fare: Rs 3,000 | Maximum fare: Rs 9,000

• (Sector D) Flights with duration of 90-120 minutes

Minimum fare: Rs 3,500 |Maximum fare: Rs 10,000

• (Sector E) Flights with duration of 120-150 minutes

Minimum fare: Rs 4,500 | Maximum fare: Rs 13,000

• (Sector F) Flights with duration of 150-180 minutes

Minimum fare: Rs 5,500 | Maximum fare: Rs 15,700

• (Sector G) Flights with duration of 180-210 minutes

Minimum fare: Rs 6,500 | Maximum fare: Rs 18,600

Also read: Domestic flights to resume with these set of rules

Also read: Is it a good idea to resume domestic flights as infections keep rising?

For the names of cities you can fly to refer to the following article: Domestic flight prices capped: Delhi-Mumbai tickets at maximum Rs 10,000 | Full list of routes and air fares

The rates will be decided upon and charged by individual airlines but they won’t charge any amount above the minimum and maximum airfare rates set by the DGCA.