Since the announcement of lockdown, India had stopped all flights from 25th March. The lockdown has since been extended thrice. The current lockdown may end on 31 May. Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri had informed on 20th May that domestic flights will resume from 25th May 2020 onwards. It will resume only in big cities. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) on 21st May issued a standard operating procedure – SOP for airports for restarting domestic flights.

The AAI said in a statement, "Airport operators must make arrangements for sanitization of passenger’s baggage before entry into the airport. Only asymptomatic patients will be allowed to travel.” 

Some of the rules that have to be followed by airport operators:

•  Passengers must reach the airport early. They will have to reach the airport two hours before the flight.

• The only web check-in will be allowed. 

•  Passengers must compulsorily walk through a thermal screening zone before entering the airport terminal building. 

•  Passengers must wear masks and gloves.

•  All the passengers must have the Aarogya Setu app on their mobiles

• If the Aarogya Setu does not show ‘green’, then the passenger will not be allowed to enter the airport. 

• Aarogya Setu app is not compulsory for children below 14 years of age.

•  Sanitization of baggage will be done before entering the terminal.

• Only one check-in bag and one bag on board will be allowed per passenger. 

• At all the places where there will be contact with the passengers, staff sitting behind the counter must wear face shields or put glass walls at the counter. 

• Airports must continuously announce social distancing and other rules.

• Boarding will be done in batches to maintain social distancing.

• Passenger seating arrangement must be carefully done to maintain social distancing. Seats that are not to be used or blocked should be marked with proper markers or tapes.  

•  All airport staff to wear PPEs and hand sanitizers for staff and passengers should be kept.

•  Newspapers and magazines will not be provided in the Terminal building/Lounges.

•  Passengers will be allowed into the terminal building (inside airport building) if their flights are within four hours.

•  It will be the responsibility of the State governments and administrations to have public transport and private taxis for passengers and airline crew (Staff).

• Trolleys will not be allowed in the arrival or departure sections, except for special cases.

• No refreshment would be served in the flights. 

Government has also set the maximum and minimum fare for the flights based on the flight duration. This limit is set currently for 3 months.  

Many states have announced that when passengers land from other states, they will be screened first. The officials will then decide whether to put them in institutional quarantine or home quarantine. In some cases, states like Karnataka, after landing passengers will have to stay in Institutional quarantine(7 days) and then in Home Quarantine for 14 days. 

Tags

• Flights
• domestic
• India

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