Domestic Flights Resume Except These 2 States; Here Are State-Wise Rules For Passengers

After being suspended for a period of 3 months, the domestic air travel is all ready to resume its services from today.

Delhi-Pune and Mumbai-Patna flights are among the first flights to take off in the Indian skies, after a long hiatus. While the Delhi-Pune flight departed at its scheduled time, at 4:45 am, the Mumbai-Patna flight departed at 6:45 am.

We have covered multiple reports and articles on all the rules and regulations the state governments and the Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri has taken, to ensure as safe and secure journey as possible.

News from AP and WB

As May 25 came closer, more and more state governments started implying their own set of rules and conditions to reopen the domestic airports. This gave rise to intense confusion.

Yesterday, Sunday evening, Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted and informed that after a long and hard day of negotiations with various state govts to recommence civil aviation operations in the country, the conclusions were that except for Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, all other domestic flights will recommence across the country from May 25 (today).

• Andhra Pradesh will start the domestic flights from May 26, while
• West Bengal will commence these domestic flights from May 28.

According to sources, there will be 1,095 departures on May 25, with nearly 60% of the operating flights on the day, full.

Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal will not immediately restart domestic flights, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Sunday.

MH Allows only 50 Domestic Flights in a Day

Speaking of the highest recorded ‘Covid-19 cases’state, Maharashtra, the MH govt was vocal against resumption of domestic flights.

However, it took this a notch down and decided to allow 25 takeoffs and 25 landings every day from Mumbai, i.e. Mumbai airport will handle 50 domestic flights per day. It has also stated that this number will rise gradually.

Maharashtra CM claims to have spoken to Puri, regarding reopening domestic airways in red zone areas like the state, and has requested him to give the state some time to make some preparations before resuming domestic air travel.

Thackeray said,

• Until Mumbai International Airport Limited, MIAL plans and makes proper arrangements and preparations for the airport transport, the aviation ministry should initiate minimum possible domestic flights from Maharashtra from May 25.

Some Important Overview from Other States too

Similar to Maharashtra, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too requested the Centre to postpone the resumption of domestic flight services at Kolkata and Bagdogra airport, especially after the ill-effects of Cyclone Amphan.

• Kolkata and Bagdogra airports to not operate any domestic flights between May 25-27
• Both of these airports will handle 20 flights per day from May 28.

 Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Andhra Pradesh have announced their respective quarantine measures for passengers arriving at their airports.

Here are Rules Set by Individual States

Uttar Pradesh

• Travellers entering the state need to be under home quarantine for 14 days.
• If they’re staying for just a week’s time, they must clear the Covid test beforehand.
• The ones serving quarantine period, must get themselves tested on the sixth day from their arrival and end their quarantine.
• Outsiders on visits of less than a week to the state need not go into quarantine if they furnish details of their return journey.
• Travellers entering UP will have to register themselves on http://reg.upcovid.in and furnish details of themselves and family members travelling with them. 
• A message will be displayed on their phones after this and CISF personnel will let them leave the airport only after checking it.

Karnataka

• Travellers entering Karnataka from red zone areas will be kept in institutional quarantine for seven days.
• If tested negative for coronavirus, they’ll have to home quarantine themselves for a week.
• Karnataka has classified Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh as “high prevalence” states.
• Passengers from remaining states will have to undergo 14 days of home quarantine.
• For businessmen coming for urgent work wouldn’t undergo any quarantine if they bring their test results of 2 days old, with their.

Himachal Pradesh

• Dharamshala administration has allowed only those with valid address proof of the state to book tickets to the city.
• Dharamshala will have two flights from Delhi and one from Chandigarh daily.
• The incoming person will have to obtain an entry pass from the concerned district administration, which will have to be shown on de-boarding the flight at Gaggal airport of Dharamshala.
• Travellers from red zone areas and those with ILI symptoms will be put in institutional quarantine.
• Non-residents of the states will not be allowed and they shall immediately be put in institutional quarantine before sending them back on their own expenses.

Andhra Pradesh

• Passengers will be home quarantined.
• Once test results come negative, they will be relieved from quarantine.
• Vijayawada and Vizag airports won’t operate any domestic flights on Monday. 
• Services on these airports will begin from Tuesday.

J&K

• All passengers will have to undergo “administrative quarantine” for a fortnight.
•  Thirty kiosks have been set up at Srinagar airport for collection of samples.

Kerala

• Passengers entering the state will be put into 14 days’ home quarantine. 
• Exception made for ones coming for business purposes or for a short duration.

Punjab and Bihar

• Punjab: Passengers to be put in home quarantine for 14 days.
• Bihar: Passengers to be put in paid quarantine for 14 days.

Chattisgarh

• Passengers to be put in 14-day quarantine at government centres, homes or paid facilities.
• Baggage will be sanitised at the airport and only select vehicles whose details are with the transport department will be allowed to pick and drop passengers.

Tamil Nadu

• TN govt has allowed only 25 domestic flights per day to Chennai.
• No restrictions for Covai, Madurai & Trichy sectors.
• Flights from Maharashtra & Gujarat may be kept at the “barest minimum possible,” no restrictions for outgoing flights.

Assam

• Assam will be putting flyers on a 14-day quarantine.
• The passengers will be distributed equally in home quarantine and government quarantine.

Manipur

• Domestic flight services to resume from 9 am on Monday. 
• Passengers to undergo full thermal scan on arrival.
• Asymptotic ones to be stamped for home quarantine.
• Any symptomatic passenger or suspected passenger will be separated immediately and sent to Isolation Ward/ Covid-19 Treatment Ward by a medical team.