Trains and flights unlikely to resume after lockdown ends

Indians might have to wait longer after the lockdown to reach their desired destinations. Rail and air travel are unlikely to resume after lockdown 2.0 ends on May 3. Social distancing concerns might continue much longer for the travel industry. All the airlines have been told not to take bookings after May 3, sources said. On Saturday, a Group of Ministers attended a meeting at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's residence. After the meeting these ministers expressed concern over resuming trains and flights. The government also clarified that no decision has been taken to allow domestic or international flights. The clarification came within hours after Air India posted on its website regarding bookings. Air India said that it is taking bookings for travel from May 4 on some domestic routes and from June 1 for international routes. "The Ministry of Civil Aviation clarifies that so far no decision has been taken to open any operations. Airlines are advised to wait until a decision is taken by the Government," Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted. As the Covid-19 cases reach more than 15,000, with more than 500 fatalities, restart for travel industry will be a challenge Air traffic and passenger trains were suspended last month to curb the spread of COVID-19. The aviation sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Airlines have either slashed salaries or asked employees to go on a sabbatical without pay. Lakhs of indirect workers of railways and airlines also face the wrath of lockdown. The central government will review the reports from health ministry regarding Covid-19 numbers before it decides to open rail and air travel Before starting the rail and air services, government will have to prepare for infection free travel. The railways and airlines being mass services might be a threat to contain the virus spread. So lockdown may end but your wait to travel by trains and flights might not end with the lockdown.