News

New domestic travel rules from tomorrow: Higher ticket prices, lesser flights

Those of you who have made travel plans or all flying from tomorrow, then this piece of news is for you. Starting 1 June, flights within the country are set to become costlier as the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has decided to raise the lower limit on domestic airfares from 13 per cent to 16 per cent. This is the first time the government has cut the capacity ceiling on flights since domestic operations resumed on May 25 last year. What are the new fare restrictions? Now, the lower limit for flights under 40 minutes of duration will be increased from ₹2,300 to ₹2,600 — a hike of 13 per cent. Similarly, flights with a duration between 40 minutes and 60 minutes will have a lower limit of ₹3,300 instead of the current ₹2,900. Domestic flights of duration between 60-90, 90-120, 120-150, 150-180 and 180-210 minutes will have lower limits of ₹4,000, ₹4,700, ₹6,100, ₹7,400 and ₹8,700, respectively. As per an order by MoCA, "Fare for domestic travel less than 40 minutes of duration will be hiked by ₹2,300 to ₹2,600, which is 13 per cent of the current fare." Flights with a duration between 40 minutes to one hour will have fares at a lower limit of ₹3,300. The fares for such flights were earlier capped by the ministry at ₹2,900. Similarly, for flights of duration between 60-90 minutes airfare will be charged at ₹4,000, 90-120 minutes at ₹4,700, 150-180 minutes at ₹6,100 and 180-210 minutes will cost ₹7,400. Delhi-Mumbai flight: A Delhi-Mumbai flight will cost ₹700 more than the current fare after the new rule kicks in. Current airfare Currently, the airfare for flights in the above period is cheaper by ₹300 to ₹1,000. Reason for the increase in airfares: On account of the rise in fuel costs, the government has increased the fare limits. An increase in airfares has also been attributed to the capacity of the load factors of the passengers. A sudden increase of coronavirus cases in the second wave of the Covid pandemic showed a decrease in domestic air travel. Lower and upper limits on airfares: India had imposed lower and upper limits on airfares based on flight duration when services were resumed on May 25 last year after a two-month lockdown. When the government had resumed scheduled domestic flights, the ministry had permitted the carriers to operate not more than 33 per cent of their pre-Covid domestic services. This cap was gradually increased to up to 80 per cent by December last year. And, now the cap has been reduced from 80 per cent to 50 per cent. This reduction will come into effect from June 1.

Read more

Partial unlock process begins in J&K

With Covid-19 cases showing some dip over last one week, the Jammu and Kashmir government today issued fresh lockdown guidelines effective from Monday for all the 20 districts of the Union Territory announcing partial relaxation in some public activities. The fresh guidelines were issued under section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. As per an order issued by the J&K Chief Secretary, also the Chairman of the State Executive Committee of the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, “all standalone shops, outdoor shopping complexes and outdoor bazaars will reopen with effect from May 31 on alternate or rotation basis on weekdays except Saturdays and Sundays.” As per the revised guidelines, all universities, colleges, and technical/skill development institutions in J&K shall remain closed for imparting on-campus/in-person education to the students till June 15. All schools and coaching centres will remain closed till June 15. All cinemas, multiplexes, clubs, gyms, spas, massage centres and paid parks shall continue to remain closed. Barber shops and salons/parlours shall remain open on three days in a week except Saturdays and Sundays. All religious places will remain open subject to the SOPs already in place. Restaurants and hotels will remain open only for in-house guests and home delivery. In the five districts classified as ‘Red’, public transport will remain closed. However, in case of indoor shopping malls, only 25 percent shops will be allowed to reopen as per a roster to be framed in consultation with the respective mall management. The respective DCs have been asked to frame a roster to facilitate the partial reopening of markets. The order stated that public transport has been allowed to ply on roads with 50 percent seating capacity while auto rickshaws and three-wheelers have been allowed to ply without any restrictions. It stated that the ceiling on the number of people permitted to attend gatherings and functions shall be 20 in case of funerals and 25 in case of all kinds of other social and religious gatherings whether at indoors or outdoors venues. The government has ordered that curfew from 8:00 pm each Friday till 7:00 am each Monday in Jammu and Kashmir. Also, the night curfew shall remain imposed in all 20 districts in Jammu and Kashmir from 8:00 pm to 7:00 am next day, reads an order “There shall be a complete ‘Corona’ Curfew with no movement of people except for permissible activities only at the time of curfew except essential & emergency services/movement / work and essential supplies shall remain exempted subject to production of wedding cards / ID cards etc. and wholesalers, Fruit & Sabzi mandis may also remain open as necessary in a regulated manner to ensure provision of essential supplies.”

Read more

Govt cuts seating capacity in domestic flights to 50%, fares could go up

The Union civil aviation ministry on Friday reduced the seating capacity of domestic flights from 80% to 50% of their normal capacity from June 1. Fares for domestic travel could also get costlier as the ministry also raised the lower limit on fares by 13% to 16 %. “This decision has been taken in view of the sudden surge in the number of active Covid-19 cases across the country, decrease in passenger traffic and passenger load factor (occupancy rate)", the ministry's order issued late on Friday said. The aviation ministry imposed lower and upper limits on airfares based on flight duration when services resumed on May 25 last year following complete suspension of passenger air travel for two-months. According to the order, the lower limit for flights under 40 minutes of duration will be increased from ₹2,300 to ₹2,600 -- an increase of 13%. The official order said that the government has taken this decision keeping in mind the "prevailing situation of Covid-19" in the country. Similarly, flights with duration between 40 minutes and 60 minutes will have a lower limit of ₹3,300 instead of ₹2,900 now, the order said. For domestic flights of duration between 60-90 minutes, the lower limit will go up from ₹3,500 to ₹4,000. The lower limit will go up from ₹4,100 to ₹4,700 for flights of the duration of 90-120 minutes, from ₹5,300 to ₹6,100 for flights of 120-150 minutes, from ₹6,400 to ₹7,400 for flights of 150-180 minutes and from ₹7,600 to 8,700 for flights of 180-210 minutes. When the government resumed scheduled domestic flights in India on May 25 last year after a two-month-long lockdown, the ministry had permitted the carriers to operate not more than 33% of their pre-COVID domestic services. The cap was gradually increased to 80% by December last year.

Read more

Kerala to issue Covid vaccination certificates with passport no. for global travel. Details here

The Kerala government on Friday decided to issue a Covid vaccination certificate with passport numbers to those people who wish to travel abroad for purposes such as education, jobs, etc. In an official order, the state government said: "The Government of Kerala will issue a certificate in the prescribed format wherein passport number will be recorded and vaccination certificate issued to a person who wishes to go get travel clearance and requires such certificates". The District Medical Officer is authorised as the competent authority to issue vaccination certificates, the state government added. Moreover, if a person has taken the Covishield vaccine and has to get travel clearance, he/she will be eligible for the second dose after 4-6 weeks, and will not have to wait for 12 to 16 weeks, the Kerala government said in a circular. The District Medical Officer is authorised as the competent authority to issue vaccination certificates, the state government added. Moreover, if a person has taken the Covishield vaccine and has to get travel clearance, he/she will be eligible for the second dose after 4-6 weeks, and will not have to wait for 12 to 16 weeks, the Kerala government said in a circular.

Read more

Collector says new rules meant to ‘develop tourism’ in Lakshadweep

The proposed new rules in Lakshadweep are for the benefit of the people and a misinformation campaign is being carried out by people with vested interests to project the Union territory administration in poor light, said collector S Askar Ali at a media conference in Kochi on Thursday. This was even as an all-party virtual meet in the island, attended even by some BJP leaders, decided to move court against the controversial rules brought in by UT administrator Praful Khoda Patel. In the first official briefing since the controversy erupted, the collector defended the administration, saying everything was being done to develop Lakshadweep as a tourism hub. Ali gave the example of the island nation of Maldives and said it has the same features and climate as Lakshadweep but is way ahead in tourism. “Our idea is to develop tourism in the island to help the local economy and provide better jobs to the youth. Many youths either go outside for jobs or engage in traditional vocations. We have to change it,” Ali said. On the more controversial orders, Ali said that there was no beef ban in the island, but cow slaughter is barred just like in a few other states and UTs. On the altered midday meal menu, Ali said beef and chicken were taken out to popularise fish and the decision was taken by the education department. He said egg and fish were still part of the menu. On the proposal to allow alcohol, the collector said it will be restricted to the tourism industry alone and some of the charges being levelled at the administration on this are baseless. About the imposition of the Goonda Act, Ali said the crime rate was going up and there was a need to nip it in the bud. “We have reports about some youth being attracted to the drug trade. Recently, the coast guard seized drugs worth ₹3,000 crore near one of the uninhabited islands. Such laws are only meant for such forces,” the collector said. However, political parties are already getting ready to challenge the new rules in court. This was decided at an all-party virtual meet on Thursday where even BJP leaders were present. It was also decided to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week over the matter.

Read more

Korea Tourism Organization to host virtual B2B travel event in India

Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), New Delhi office will be launching its first virtual ‘Korea Travel Expo’ B2B event for the India market from June 22-24, 2021. Over 15 top regional tourism boards, attractions and DMCs of Korea have already confirmed to exhibit in the event. Some of the key names include representatives from Seoul and Busan tourism boards, Jeju Convention & Visitor Bureau and Lotte World with its collection of theme parks, Aquariums and Observatory. The expo will provide an excellent opportunity to interact with and explore different available suppliers and enterprises in Korea. The platform has been designed to provide a real-life exhibition experience with an easy-to-use interface that is as easy as walking up to an exhibitor. There will be options for pre-scheduled and walk-in meetings, collecting useful information, and a variety of fun and interactive activities to win exciting prizes. While the first day of the event is reserved for ‘by invite only’ attendees, all travel agents can register for day 2 and 3, which are open for registrations for agents all over India. Aimed at reconnecting Indian travel agents to their previously known suppliers and also a variety of new exhibitors who are looking forward to connect with the Indian market for the very first time, the travel expo has been organized to help the Indian travel trade to meet the various exhibitors and then start making their plans and products for 2022 onwards when leisure and MICE travel is expected to normalise. During the launch of the website, Young-Geul Choi, Director, Korea Tourism Organization, New Delhi office, said, “With the situation slowly but steadily coming under control, and people resuming work, we feel that holding the Expo at the end of June lets people acclimate to their working environment and look forward to planning international travel products for the near future. Our Korean exhibitors are looking forward to meet you.” While South Korea remains closed for inbound tourism, Covid vaccinations for the general population is taking off at a rapid pace and the country is preparing to welcome international tourists within 2022. Systems and protocols are also being worked out to meet the challenges in the new era of travel.

Read more