Flight operations face turbulence as several states set their own rules

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS RESUME TODAY; NO DOMESTIC FLIGHTS IN WEST BENGAL AND ANDHRA ON MONDAY

NEW DELHI: A day before the resumption of domestic commercial passenger flights across India, states expressed their reluctance to deal with so many incoming passengers amid the coronavirus pandemic. Also, there was confusion following the imposition of own set of conditions and rules by several states which are at odds with each other.

Many states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu were opposed to opening up of their airports, making it difficult for the airlines as well as the civil aviation authorities to resume services.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Twitter on Sunday that it is “extremely ill-advised” to reopen airports in red zones.

However, a senior Maharashtra government official later said that the Mumbai airport will be operating 50 flights (25 arrivals and 25 departure) per day from Monday.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she will urge the Centre to postpone the resumption of domestic flight services at Kolkata and Bagdogra airports by a few days.

Later reports came that Kolkata and Bagdogra will each handle only 20 flights per day, but from May 28 onwards.

“For Tamil Nadu there will be a maximum of 25 arrivals in Chennai but there’s no limit on the number of departures. For other airports in Tamil Nadu flights will operate as in other parts of the country,” said an official.

The Hyderabad airport will deal with only 30 domestic flights per day from Monday, and there will be no domestic services at the Vijaywada and the Vizag airports on Monday.