AIR TRAVEL NOT TO BE THE SAME IN POST-LOCKDOWN INDIA: DOs and DONTs for passengers

Domestic and International Air Travel has been suspended since 25th March 2020 due to outbreak of COVID 19 in the country. After nearly 2 months of nationwide lockdown the government has now decided to resume the DOMESTIC operations from 25th May 2020 and the same was announced by Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation ‘Hardeep Singh Puri’ through his tweet on Wednesday and thereafter order being issued by MOCA. It was followed by a media address yesterday, on May 21, discussing norms and guidelines to be followed by the airlines and passenger for resumption of domestic air travel. Accordingly in an order, a detailed set of general guidelines has been issued by Ministry of Civil Aviation for the safety of the passengers. Few of the major guidelines, in a simplified manner, has been listed for passengers to familiarise themselves about the new procedures to be followed at the airports:-

1. Reach 2 hours prior to the departure time

2. Web check-in is mandatory.

3. Also Print the baggage tag and affix it at a prominent place on your bag or stick thick paper with PNR, NAME & flight details boldly written on it.

4. Registration with Arogya Setu app.

( Passengers with ‘Red Status’ will NOT be permitted to travel.)

5. Wear Face mask throughout the journey

6. Only One Hand Baggage & One Check-in Baggage allowed.

7. Elderly people, pregnant ladies, people with health issues to avoid air travel.

8. People staying in containment areas will not be permitted to travel.

9. People tested COVID 19 positive in past two months will NOT be permitted to travel

10. Maintain Social Distance

11. Only water will be served In the aircraft (No food to be served)

12. Minimal use of lavatory

13. Cabin crew to wear fully body gowns (PPE Kit)

It was also clarified that people will NOT be Quarantined at the destination. Middle seat will NOT be kept vacant in the aircraft. All the airports in India will be operational with 1/3rd capacity of the approved summer flight schedule 2020 (will not be applicable for RCS UDAAN flights). A new schedule has already been finalised by the respective airlines. Online bookings have also begun with the new fare structure set by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which will be shared in detail in my next blog. The above mentioned guidelines and norms are not to scare the passengers but to ensure their hygiene and safety so that they can travel by air without fear.