To maintain operations at 80% of pre-Covid level, DGCA raises fare cap on domestic flights

Due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) extended the fare cap on domestic flights until 31st May and reduced capacity to 80% of pre-pandemic levels. Following the resumption of flights following the government's enforced lockdown due to the country's first wave of coronavirus pandemic last year, the aviation regulator set a price limit.

Owing to an increase in the price of aviation turbine fuel, the DGCA increased the lower and upper limits on domestic airfares by 10 to 30% in February.

In partial clarification of the circular dated 26-6-2020, the competent authority has extended the validity of the circular issued on the above subject regarding Scheduled International Commercial Passenger Services to/from India until 23:59 hrs IST on April 30th. According to the circular, this restriction does not apply to foreign all-cargo operations or flights that have been specifically approved by the DGCA.

Last month, the aviation authority approved 18,843 weekly flights from 108 airports as part of the summer program. This should be noted that 18,843 departures per week have been finalised to/from 108 airports. The new airports proposed by scheduled airlines include Bareilly, Bilaspur, Kurnool, and Rupasi, according to the DGCA in a tweet. It mentioned that the decision was made with the restricted occupancy of inside flights in mind due to the country's Covid-19 situation in mind. The DGCA has also prohibited international flights until April 30.

The DGCA has also demanded that airport authorities take action against those who violate Covid-19 standards and that airlines consider deboarding passengers who disagree with the Covid-19 preventative measures placed in place to break the chain of transmission.

“Throughout surveillance of some airports, it was discovered that consistency with Covid-19 protocols is not satisfactory,” the regulator said in March.

Due to lockdown-like steps implemented across many states in the region, there have been no changes to air travel. People travelling to and from airports will be permitted to fly by displaying their tickets, which will be treated as an e-pass.