With domestic flights all set to resume in a calibrated manner from May 25, the government today said that the airlines can sell at least 40 per cent seats in flights at mid-point of lower and upper air fare limit set for the route. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also said that only one-third flights will be permitted from metro to non-metro cities where weekly departures are more than 100.
Here’s all you need to know about the modalities of domestic flights resumption:
1. Flight routes have been divided into seven categories– flights less than 40 minutes; 40-60 minutes; 60-90 minutes; 90-120 minutes; 120-150 minutes; 150-180 minutes; 180-210 minutes.
Also Read: Want to take a domestic flight starting May 25? Here’s all you need to know
2. A minimum and maximum rate has been set. In the case of Mumbai and Delhi, the minimum rate will be Rs 3500 and the maximum at Rs 10,000. This is for a flight journey which will take 120 minutes. This order will remain in place will 11:59 hours on August 24.
3. The Civil Aviation Secretary also said that 40% of the total tickets will have to be sold less than the mid-point band. For example, the midpoint band of Rs 3500 and Rs 10,000 is Rs 6700. This is how price stability will be maintained.
4. Flights shall operate at a reduced capacity. In this regard, the summer schedule of flights shall be considered to be the total capacity.
* Metro to Metro cities: 1/3 of the total capacity
* Metro to non-metro cities (100+ weekly departures)- 1/3 capacity,
* Metro to Non-metro cities (less than 100 departures)- airlines are free to operate any route with 1/3 capacity,
* For all other cities- Airlines to operate any routes with 1/3 capacity.
Metro routes have been identified as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
These guidelines shall remain in force till August 24, 2020 till 11:59 PM.