India suspends all domestic flights except cargo from March 25
March 23, 2020: Amid scare of Covid-19 pandemic, the ministry of civil aviation of India announced the suspension of all domestic commercial airlines except solely cargo-carrying flights effective from today midnight.
Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destination before 23.59 hours on March 24, 2020.
March 23, 2020: Amid scare of Covid-19 pandemic with 415 confirmed cases and eight causalities, the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) of India announced the suspension of all domestic commercial airlines except solely cargo-carrying flights effective from tomorrow midnight till March 31, 2020.
"The operations of domestic schedule commercial airlines shall cease operations with effective from the midnight 23.59 IST hours on March 24, 2020. Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destination before 2359 hours on March 24, 2020. The restrictions shall not apply to solely cargo-carrying flights," says the MoCA release.
"The Central Government considers that the movement of persons within the country by flights carrying a large number of persons together will aid and assist the spread of the above virus within India and for prevention of the further spread of the epidemic disease, such movement of people must be restricted, " says the MoCA order.
The order also reads "The operation of flights by the holders of Non-scheduled operator permit(except all-cargo flights, off-shore helicopter operations,medical evacuation flights or flights specifically approved by DGCA-India) and flights by private aircraft operators shall also cease with effect from 23.59 hrs.IST on March 24,2020."
Domestic schedule commercial airlines shall cease operations from the mid night 23.59 IST hours on 24/3/2020.
— PIB India (@PIB_India) March 23, 2020
Restrictions shall not apply to solely cargo carrying flights#IndiaFightsCoronavirus#COVID2019india@MoCA_GoIhttps://t.co/XhcpUlwGlR
Meanwhile Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) came out with a clarification regarding the ban on all international flights till March 31, that there are no restrictions on cargo operations for them either.
"Currently, there are no restrictions imposed on domestic or foreign air operators for carrying out cargo operations at any airport in India. All stakeholders kindly note," DGCA tweeted.
