Domestic flight booking news updates: Here’s how much your flight ticket will cost you from May 25! Check details

Global airlines' grouping IATA said the government's decision to regulate airfares is a "step back" and carriers need to have the freedom to make their commercial decisions, including pricing of air tickets. The comments came after the civil aviation ministry announced that airfares would be capped for three months till August 24. "Airlines need to have the freedom to make their commercial decisions, including the pricing of airfares. Hence, we recognise and hope that this is a one-time measure as a result of COVID-19 and will be discontinued on August 24. India's Air Corporation Act was repealed in 1994, so the announcement to regulate airfares more than 2 decades later comes across as certainly a step back," IATA Assistant Director (Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific) Albert Tjoeng told PTI. 

Recommencement of domestic flights- ticket fare to be between Rs 2000 and Rs 18,600 for 7 classes of sectors. 

Recommencement of domestic flights- ticket fare to be between Rs 2000 and Rs 18,600 for 7 classes of sectors: Ministry of Civil Aviation pic.twitter.com/QCTpvNukOo

— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2020

Domestic flights resume: Centre releases on-flight guidelines for passengers! Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday said that the domestic flights will resume operations from May 25. The development comes two months after all civil flights had been grounded in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Read More

Domestic flights recommence: Centre releases guidelines for passengers at airports! Union Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday announced that the domestic flights will be resumed from May 25, after all civil flights had been grounded in view of the coronavirus pandemic two months ago. Read Full Report

On Delhi-Mumbai route, upper limit for flight fare would be Rs 10,000. 40 per cent seats in flights would have to be sold at mid-point of lower and upper air fare limit set for the route: Aviation Secretary (PTI)

Can't comment right now on when we would be able to restore flight operations completely: Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri (PTI)

Passengers who don't have Aarogya Setu app can give self-declaration form, will not be stopped from boarding flights: Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri (PTI)

Airports have been advised to earmark areas for isolation as well as to carry out COVID-19 testing of suspected passengers. According to the guidelines, the airports will have to ensure easy availability of hand sanitisers at all entry points and at various touch points. (PTI)

• While travelling in any mode of transportation, hygiene standards and social distancing norms must be followed by the travellers. 
• Upon arrival, travellers would be required to adhere to health protocols issued by the destination state or UT.

• Transit passengers would not be permitted to exit the transit area.
• Only authorised taxis maintaining hygiene standards should be used by passengers for travel to their destination, and only these taxis would be allowed to pick up passengers from the airport.

• Passengers are advised to use baggage trolleys in the arrival hall sparingly.

• Travellers must wait at the baggage hold area till the baggage arrives on the conveyor belt in batches.

• The travellers must deboard the plane in a sequential order and no one should rush towards the exit gate.

• Social distancing as well as sanitization must be followed at the arrival gate, aerobridges, ramps, coaches and jet ladders.

The rules included no meals on board, mandatory temperature checks for all passengers and allowing only one check-in bag for each passenger. People who were tested positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to travel. All the passengers will have to wear masks while entering the airports and thereafter.
Passengers will have to report to airports two hours before flights are scheduled to depart and they will have to strictly follow social distancing rules.
The government's decision to allow the domestic air travel comes days after the government relaxed norms allowing economic activities to resume in a bid to revive the economy hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown. (PTI)

About a third of operations will be allowed under strict norms when domestic flight services restart on Monday after a two-month hiatus and all the airlines will have to adhere to the upper and lower limits of fares prescribed by the government, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Thursday. The Civil Aviation Secretary said 40 per cent of the seats in any flight will have to be sold at the mid-point of the lower and upper air fare limits prescribed for any route by the authorities. (PTI)

Limits on air fares have been set in seven bands as per the flight durations and they would be in place till August 24, said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday. The minister said the first band, which would have its specific lower and upper limits of air fare, will consist of flights that are of less than 40 minutes duration. Second, third, fourth and fifth bands of upper limit would be of flights with durations of 40-60 minutes, 60-90 minutes, 90-120 minutes and 120-150 minutes, he said. The sixth and seventh bands would consist of flights with durations between 150-180 minutes and 180-210 minutes, he stated. (PTI)

Guidelines for air passengers: Inside the Aircraft

1. No newspaper / magazine will be available, no onboard sale of any item
2. If the passenger feels uncomfortable, fatigued or has respiratory distress, it should be brought to the immediate notice of the crew

Guidelines for air passengers: Inside the Aircraft

1. No queuing at the toilets and only one companion for children and elderly would be allowed
2. No meal service in the aircraft. Water bottle to be made available in the gallery area or on the seats. Eatables not to be consumed during the flight

Guidelines for air passengers: Inside the Aircraft

1. During the flight, passengers to strictly follow hygiene and sanitation. Face to face interaction to be minimized
2. Passengers to minimize the use of toilets and avoid any non-essential movement in the aisles

Guidelines for air passengers: Boarding the Aircraft

1. Passengers to wear mask and sanitize his/her hands before proceeding to the boarding gate for scanning of the boarding pass
2. Passenger to be attentive towards boarding announcements and reach the boarding queue by following social distancing
3. Display of identity cards by passengers is a must and Check-in of the boarding pass would be done by the passenger by self-scanning of a e-boarding pass

Guidelines for air passengers: Boarding the Aircraft

1. Passengers to be attentive towards various communication material displayed at the airport about various health advisories relating to pre-boarding abd during the flight precautions
2. Passengers to collect the safety kit (Three-layered surgical mask and sanitizer) from the airlines near the boarding gate

Flight routes have been classified into 7 - 1) Flight time less than 40 minutes, 2) 40 - 60 minutes, 3) 60 - 90 minutes, 4) 90 - 120 minutes, 5) 120 - 150 minutes, 6) 150 - 180 minutes, 7) 180 - 210 minutes. All routes within the country fall within these 7: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep SIngh Puri (ANI)

40% of seats have to be sold at a fare less than the midpoint of the band. For example, midpoint of Rs 3,500 & Rs 10,000 is Rs 6700. So, 40% of the seats have to be sold at a price less than Rs 6,700. This is how we're ensuring that fares don't go out of control: Civil Aviation Secy (ANI)

We've set a minimum and a maximum fare. In the case of Delhi, Mumbai the minimum fare would be Rs 3500 for a journey between 90-120 minutes, maximum fare would be Rs 10,000. This is operative for 3 months - till one minute to midnight on 24th August: Civil Aviation Minister HS Puri (ANI)

This order which is being issued today shall remain in force till 23:59 hours IST on 24th August: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri (ANI)

The cabin crew will be required to be in full protective gear. Only one check-in bag will be allowed. Passengers should report before at least 2 hours before departure time. Fares will be regulated and will be in a fixed range: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri (ANI)

A passenger will require to wear protective gear, face mask and carry sanitizer bottle. Airlines shall not provide meal on board. Water bottles will be made available in gallery area or on seats: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

For operation from Metro to Metro cities 1/3rd capacity of approved summer schedule 2020, which is more than 33.33%. For operation from Metro to Non-metro cities and vice-versa, where weekly departures are greater than 100, 1/3rd capacity of approved summer schedule 2020: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri (ANI)

A self-declaration or Aarogya Setu App status on a compatible device would be obtained to ensure that a passenger is free of COVID19 symptoms. Passenger with red status on Aarogya Setu App will not be allowed to travel: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri (ANI)

Based on our experience on opening up of domestic flights, we might have to tweak some procedures, only then we will think about international flights: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri (ANI)

Guidelines for air passengers: Security Hold Area

1. While going around F&B, retail outlets, etc., passenger should be aware of the social distancing and maintain hygiene. Also, he/she should be aware of the locations where sanitizers would be made available
2. Passenger to dispose of all the bio hazardous material like used masks, gloves, tissues, etc., in the yellow-colored disposable bins/bags placed at startegic locations at the airports

Guidelines for air passengers: Security Hold Area

1. Passenger to proceed to security hold area after security screening
2. While waiting in the security hold area, passenger to maintain social distancing and sanitization protocols
3. Chairs marked 'Not For Use' should not be occupied

Guidelines for air passengers: At Security Check-in

1. Passenger to bring only one hand luggage as per specified size allowed by the airlines
2. Passenger to cooperate with security staff by following the instructions for his/her own safety and security

Guidelines for air passengers: At Security Check-in

1. Arrangements have been made at airports to guide passengers to walk through the pre-embarkation security screening
2. Passenger to follow the directions as announced by the authorities and divest of all metal on the body to facilitate security screening

Guidelines for air passengers: At The Airport

1. Passenger to adhere to the social distancing which would be specified at the Airports through markings like circle, square oe tensor barrier
2. Passenger to complete the check-in procedure and baggage drop at least 60-minutes before departure

Guidelines for air passengers: At The Airport

1. Passenger to proceed to the baggage drop counter and show his / her PNR to the staff. Avoid using baggage trolley, as far as possible
2. An electronic receipt shall be sent to the passenger

Guidelines for air passengers: At The Airport

1. In case of non-availability of Aarogya Setu, passenger should be facilitated to go to a counter provided by the airport where Aarogya Setu App can be downloaded
2. Passenger to show his/ her identity card, the boarding pass / e-boarding pass to the CISF staff at the Entry Gate

Guidelines for air passengers: At The Airport

1. Passenger to arrive at the thermal screening facility near the entry gate
2. Passenger to get himself / herself checked for temperature and display the status of Aarogya Setu App to the staff at the entry gate

Guidelines for air passengers: At The Airport

1. Passenger should continue to wear mask throughout the journey
2. Passenger to get down from the vehicle with the face mask on and with required documents / e-documents

The passenger shall give a declaration to the following:

1. I / we am / are not residing in any containment zone
2. I / we am / are not suffering from any fever/ cough /any respiratory distress
3. I / we am / are not under quarantine
4. If I / we develop any of the above mentioned symptoms I shall contact the concerned health authorities, immediately
5. I / we have not tested COVID-19 positive
6. I / we am / are eligible to travel as per the extant norms
7. I shall make my mobile number / contact details available to the airlines, whenever required by them
8. I understand that if I undertake the air journey without meeting the eligibility criteria, I would be liable to penal action
9. I / we undertake to adhere the the Health Protocol prescribed by the destination state/ UT