Govt allows domestic airlines to operate at 70% of pre-COVID-19 capacity

In a relief for travellers, the Centre has permitted domestic airlines to increase their operations to 70 per cent of the pre-COVID-19 levels from existing 60 per cent. The decision has been taken in wake of a surge in passenger traffic. 

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri took to Twitter on Wednesday to make the announcement.

"Domestic operations recommenced with 30K passengers on 25 May & have reached  2.06 lakhs on 8 Nov 2020. @MoCA_GoI is now allowing domestic carriers to increase their operations from existing 60% to 70% of the pre-COVID approved capacity," the minister's tweet read.

Domestic operations recommenced with 30K passengers on 25 May & have reached 2.06 lakhs on 8 Nov 2020. @MoCA_GoI is now allowing domestic carriers to increase their operations from existing 60% to 70% of the pre-COVID approved capacity.

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) November 11, 2020

Earlier, the government had capped the domestic airlines' operations at 60%, stating that it will remain in place till February 24, 2021, or 'until further orders'.

It may be recalled that domestic passenger flights were resumed from May 25, after a halt of two months due to the nationwide lockdown. However, they were not allowed to operate at more than 33 per cent of their pre-COVID capacity.

A month later, this cap was increased to 45 per cent and on September 2, due to the high volume of travellers, the government further increased it to 60 per cent.

Notably, the government had started the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ on May 6  aimed at bringing back stranded citizens from foreign countries and help those stranded due to the novel coronavirus pandemic reach their destinations via international repatriation flights.

According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, 8,165 repatriation flights were operated by the Air India Group under the Vande Bharat Mission till November 2, carrying over 10.51 lakh passengers. Of these, 4,079 were inbound flights carrying 6.58 lakh passengers and 4,086 were outbound flights with 3.93 lakh fliers.

The seventh phase of the mission is currently on and will continue until December 30.