Heena Sharma Blog

To ensure affordable air ticket fares for passengers and at the same time maintain financial viability for airlines in the times of the coronavirus pandemic , the government has capped air fares for three months. This is the first time since fares were deregulated in 1994 that a government has decided to interfere with pricing of air tickets. While announcing the resumption of air transport from March 25, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said there would be fare caps and floor prices based on flight duration. How are the flight fares going to be fixed? The flight routes have been divided into seven bands based on the flight duration. 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. Second, third, fourth and fifth bands of upper limits would be of flights with durations of 40-60 minutes, 60-90 minutes, 90-120 minutes and 120-150 minutes, respectively. Read More

The Central Industrial Security Force , which guards 63 Indian airports, has recommended staggered flight schedules and closure of check-in counters two hours prior to departure to avoid crowding and maintaining social distancing. These suggestions are part of business continuity plan submitted by the CISF to the civil aviation ministry. Domestic and international flights are suspended till April 14 as part of a nationwide lockdown. Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday said restrictions will be lifted once government is confident that spread of virus is controlled and it poses no danger to citizens. While the Directorate General of Civil Aviation will it make mandatory for airlines to keep all middle seats in aircraft vacant, CISF has made its own recommendations to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Read More