Domestic flight services steadily moving towards pre-Covid numbers, says Puri

Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday announced that the domestic aviation operations were steadily moving towards pre-Covid numbers. The flight services were hit hard in the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic last year. Taking to Twitter, Puri also shared statistics about the number of people who took domestic flights to say that flying is the "preferred mode of travel". "Domestic aviation operations steadily move towards pre-Covid numbers. 2,59,851 passengers on 2,151 domestic flights on 9 Jan 2021 reiterate passenger confidence in flying as the preferred mode of travel. The day also saw total footfalls of 5,16,404 & 4,306 total flight movements," the civil aviation minister tweeted. All scheduled commercial flight operations were suspended in India on March 25 after the central government imposed a lockdown to contain the further spread of Covid-19. While domestic flights resumed operations from May 25 in a gradual manner, some special international flights have been operating within air bubbles arrangements with other countries since July. Meanwhile, the civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday extended the suspension of all international flight operations in the country till 31 January, 2021. "Govt of India extends suspension of scheduled commercial international flights till 31 Jan, 2021," said the civil aviation regulator. However, the restrictions will not be applicable on international air cargo operations and flights specially approved by DGCA. Moreover, scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 due to the pandemic. However, airlines have been permitted to operate special international flights under the Vande Bharat Mission since May this year and under the bilateral air bubble pacts since July. India has formed air bubble pacts with 24 countries currently.