Patna : The Government of India on May 21, 2020, announced the new conditions under which Inland Flights have been allowed to resume from May 25, 2020.
Flight routes have been divided into 7 (seven) categories :-
· First Category – Flights of less than 40 Minutes.
· Second Category – Flights between 40 to 60 Minutes.
· Third Category – Flights between 60 to 90 Minutes.
· Fourth Category – Flights between 90 to 120 Minutes.
· Fifth Category – Flights between 120 to 150 Minutes.
· Sixth Category – Flights between 150 to 180 Minutes.
· Seventh Category – Flights between 180 to 210 Minutes.
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri held a Press Conference to announce the commencement of domestic flights by commercial airlines. He informed that passengers will have to wear face masks.
Passengers will be required to provide self declaration or they will have to carry Aarogya Setu App on their mobiles so that it may be ascertained that they are not infected by COVID-19. Passengers having red status on the Aarogya Setu App may not be allowed to undertake the flight.
Airlines will not provide food during the flight.
The Minister informed that minimum and maximum fare limits have been set which will have to be followed by the airlines. For example, the travel between Delhi and Mumbai, which falls in the category of 90-120 Minute journey, will have minimum air fare of `3,500.00 (Rupees Three Thousand Five Hundred) only and the maximum fare would be capped at `10,000.00 (Rupees Ten Thousand) only.
· Minimum and Maximum fares for duration below 40 Minute flights : Minimum `2,000.00 and Maximum `6,000.00.
· Minimum and Maximum fares for flight duration between 40 to 60 Minutes flights : Minimum `2,500.00 and Maximum `7,500.00.
· Minimum and Maximum fares for flight duration between 60 to 90 Minutes flights : Minimum `3,000.00 and Maximum `9,000.00.
· Minimum and Maximum fares for flight duration between 90 to 120 Minutes flights : Minimum `3,500.00 and Maximum `10,000.00.
· Minimum and Maximum fares for flight duration between 120 to 150 Minutes flights : Minimum `4,500.00 and Maximum `13,000.00.
· Minimum and Maximum fares for flight duration between 150 to 180 Minutes flights : Minimum `5,500.00 and Maximum `15,700.00.
· Minimum and Maximum fares for flight duration between 180 to 210 Minutes flights : Minimum `6,500.00 and Maximum `18,600.00.
The Civil Aviation Secretary, who was also present, mentioned during the Press Conference that 40 percent of the sheets have to be sold at a fare which would be less than the mid-point of the recommended airfare band.
For example, the lowest and the highest fares between Delhi and Mumbai are `3,500.00 (Rupees Three Thousand Five Hundred) only and `10,000.00 (Rupees Ten Thousand) only respectively. The mid-point between `3,500.00 and `10,000.00 is `6,700.00. Hence on the Delhi-Mumbai route, 40 percent of the tickets will have to be priced at less than `6,700.00.