Taking a domestic flight soon? Here’s how Centre’s order of lesser flights, changed ticket prices could impact you

Domestic air travel in India: Starting from June 1, airlines would only deploy up to 50% of flights of pre-COVID levels on domestic routes. The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation’s direction came after it was observed that the number of air passengers had reduced drastically over the past three months due to the second wave of the pandemic. Till now, airlines had been allowed to deploy flights at a capacity of 80% of pre-COVID levels, according to a report in IE. This marks the first reduction in an operational capacity for airlines ever since domestic flights were allowed to resume operations last year in May after a two-month national lockdown. Moreover, the lower limit of fare bands the government issued for domestic flights has also been increased.

How will the new rule impact operating flights?

The new rule means that airlines would only be allowed to operate 50% of the flights they had used in the Summer Schedule of 2020. Consequently, numerous flights would be canceled starting Tuesday. For passengers who have booked flights on June 1 or after, if their flight is canceled, they would either be shifted to an alternate flight by the airline, given a refund or allowed a free change of flying for a later date. As per the report, most carriers allow passengers to change flights without charging the usual additional fee levied in the ordinary course of business.

The new fare restrictions

Considering the increase in the cost of fuel, the ministry has now increased the lower limit of fare bands issues for domestic airlines. The fare bands are based on the duration of the flight. Accordingly, flights with fewer than 40 minutes now have a revised lower limit of Rs 2,600, an increase of 13% over the previous lower limit of Rs 2,300. Moreover, flights that have a duration ranging between 40 and 60 minutes will see an increased lower limit of Rs 3,300 from Rs 2,900 previously.

Similarly, flights with a duration of 60 to 90 minutes will now have a revised lower limit of Rs 4,000, those operating for between 90-120 minutes a lower limit of Rs 4,700, for flights with a duration of 120 to 150 minutes Rs 6,100, for those between 150 to 180 minutes Rs 7,400 and for flights with a time of 180 to 210 minutes, the revised lower limit stands at Rs 8,700.

Since March last year, the ministry has brought changes as the pandemic has been causing turbulence in the domestic aviation sector. Accordingly, once the nationwide lockdown eased in phases the previous year and domestic flights were allowed to operate in May, the ministry took to monthly evaluations of passenger traffic situation so that the future course of action could be decided accordingly. As per the report, while February 28 saw about 3.13 lakh domestic passengers traveling across the country, by May 25, this number had drastically dropped to 39,000.