The government had asked airlines not to operate more than 33% of their pre-COVID domestic flights.
New Delhi:
The upper and lower limits of domestic air fares have been extended until Nov. 24, the Aviation Ministry said today.
As of May 21, the ministry had placed these limits across seven bands, classified according to the length of the flight, until August 24.
“In line with the current COVID-19 situation, the central government … orders the order to remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on November 24, 2020, or until further orders,” the ministry said. of Aviation.
Domestic passenger services resumed on May 25 after almost two months of suspension to fight the coronavirus epidemic.
In addition to airfare limits, the government had asked airlines not to operate more than 33% of their pre-COVID domestic flights. On June 26, the cap was raised to 45%.
In another order, the Aviation Ministry said the 45 percent cap would be in place until Nov. 24 or “until further notice.”
Hours after Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announced on May 21 that there would be limits on air fares until August 24, aviation regulator DGCA issued an order with more than details.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had said that there would be seven price brackets for tickets with lower and upper price limits based on the duration of the flight.
The first of these bands includes flights lasting less than 40 minutes. The lower and upper tariff limits for the first bracket are respectively Rs 2,000 and Rs 6,000.
The following bands are for flights lasting 40 to 60 minutes, 60 to 90 minutes, 90 to 120 minutes, 120 to 150 minutes, 150 to 180 minutes and 180 to 210 minutes.
The lower and upper limits of these bands are: Rs 2,500-Rs 7,500; Rs 3000-Rs 9000; Rs 3,500-Rs 10,000; Rs 4,500-Rs 13,000; Rs 5,500-Rs 15,700 and Rs 6,500-Rs 18,600, respectively, the DGCA said.
The regulator had made it clear that each airline would sell at least 40% of its tickets on a flight at prices below the midpoint between the lower limit and the upper limit.
The aviation industry has been significantly impacted due to travel restrictions imposed in India and other countries due to the coronavirus pandemic.
All airlines in India have taken cost-cutting measures such as pay cuts, unpaid leave and employee layoffs in order to save money.
The occupancy rate for Indian domestic flights has been around 50-60% since May 25.
Scheduled international passenger flights have still been suspended in India since March 23.
