Eight Times Increase in the number of air travellers in six months: Aviation Minister

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri has said that despite challenges due to various restrictions to contain the spread of Coronavirus, the domestic civil aviation operations are steadily approaching the pre-COVID numbers.

Puri took to Twitter and informed that on November 28, 1,974 flights operated across the country in which 2,47,581 passengers flew to various destinations.

"Despite challenges, the domestic civil aviation operations continue smoothly. We are steadily approaching pre-COVID numbers. Operations resumed with about 30K passengers on 25 May 2020. Yesterday we facilitated 2,47,581 passengers on 1,974 flights," Puri tweeted from his Twitter handle @HardeepSPuri.

According to the data shared by the Ministry, 4,94,694 footfalls were registered at various airports in the country.

The Civil Aviation Operation was suspended on March 25 in the wake of the outbreak of Covid-19 in India when a complete lockdown was imposed. Only cargo operation was allowed to continue. Two months later on May 25, the Ministry of Civil Aviation decided to resume domestic air services in a calibrated manner.

Besides, due to limitations in the number of flights in the initial days of resumption of services, the government capped the airfare for the convenience of the fliers. The capping of fare still continues.

Since international operations were also suspended, the Ministry started Vande Bharat Mission flights to rescue Indians stuck abroad in various countries.

According to Puri, “Vande Bharat Mission began on 6 May by facilitating nearly 12,708 people over 10 days covering 16 destinations across 13 countries.”

“Today in phase 7, while the mission has helped more than 3.2 million people, @airindiain Group alone has flown to 75 destinations in 54 countries,” he added.