New ground rules for aviation.

Domestic air ops to cease from Tuesday midnight; cargo to fly

Govt orders strict lockdown, legal action against violators

Agency Report | New Delhi | 23 March, 2020 | 11:40 PM

Domestic passenger flights to cease with effect from the midnight of Tuesday till March 31, in view of the coronavirus scare.
“Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destination before 2359 hours on March 24, 2020,” the Ministry said in a statement.

“The restrictions shall not apply to cargo flights.”

Earlier in the day, aviation sector regulator, Director General of Civil Aviation, said there are no restrictions on domestic and foreign air operators to carry out cargo operations.

“Currently, there are no restrictions on domestic or foreign air operators for carrying out cargo operations at any airport in India. All stakeholders kindly note,” DGCA tweeted on Monday.

However, all international passenger flights have been prohibited from landing in India from Sunday for a week to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, due to the lockdown implemented in Delhi, passengers were left stranded outside T1D terminal building due to unavailability of public transport.

Presently only a few DTC buses connect the Indira Gandhi International Airport with the city.

The Central government directed the states to strictly enforce the lockdown in a bid to curtail the spread of coronavirus and take legal actions against violators.

“States asked to strictly enforce lockdown. Legal action against violators,” the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting directed.

The advisory came in the backdrop of complete lockdown of 75 districts in the country. The government has suspended passenger trains, inter-state buses and metro services across the country till March 31.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India stood at 415, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Seven people have succumbed to the virus till now.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the countrymen to take the lockdown seriously and protect their families along with them.

Modi also requested the state governments to strictly follow the rules and regulations.

“Many people are still not taking the lockdown seriously. Please save yourself, save your family, follow the instructions seriously. I request the state governments to follow the rules and Get the laws done”.