Domestic Flights Resume In India With Chaos And Inconvenience

Domestic flights in India resumed from 25th May after weeks of lockdown but it wasn’t a smooth ride as several flights were cancelled and there was huge confusion over flight schedules at some airports.

In Delhi, approximately 380 flights were scheduled for Monday, of which 82 flights (both arrival and departure) were already cancelled by afternoon, causing a lot of inconvenience.

Indigo flight 6E643 was the first flight that off from Delhi airport on the morning of 25th May. Paramilitary personnel, army men, students and migrants who failed to book a ticket on special trains were the ones who boarded the first flight.

Many passengers took to social media to express their outrage against the airlines. Most of the complaints were against Air India for cancelling the flights without prior notice or goofing up the schedule. 

“We just came back from the airport. Our flight was not on the list. Despite that, Air India is showing our flight on time. Helpline numbers and live chat sessions are not available at the moment,” Ruchi Chatterjee, a passenger, posted on Twitter.

We just came back from the airport,our flight is not on the list of airport staff carrying the list of allowed.
Despite that Air India is showing our flight on time.
Helpline numbers and live chat sessions our not available at the moment.

— Ruchi Mittal Chatterjee (@RuchiMittalCha1) May 25, 2020

Some fliers claimed that the national carrier informed passengers of cancellations after they had reached the airport.

“Absolutely horrible from @airindiain. They told me the flight has been cancelled after I reached the airport saying that we can only notify two hours before the take off. How does this make sense when government is asking us to reach the airport two hours in advance?” Neelabh Pandey said.

Absolutely horrible from @airindiain. They told me the flight has been cancelled after I reached the airport saying that we can only notify 2 hours before the take off. How does this make sense when government is asking us to reach the airport 2 hours in advance?

— Neelabh Pandey (@NeelabhPandey19) May 25, 2020

Airports key travel guidelines

The Airports Authority of India has issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for airport operators for recommencement of domestic flight operations. Among the key guidelines include mandatory use of Aarogya Setu app for those above 14 years, sanitation of baggage by airport operators before entering the airport, restrictions on vehicles allowed to pick up and drop off passengers.

Here are the guidelines that airports and fliers need to follow:

Departures

• For commuting to and from the airport, both by staff and passengers, only the personal vehicles or select authorized taxi services /transport services with restricted seating to be permitted.
• All the departing Passengers must compulsorily be registered with ‘Aarogya Setu’ App on their mobiles and the same shall be verified by CISFI Airport staff at the entry gate. However, Aarogya Setu is not mandatory for children below age of 14 years. Those not showing green on the app will not be allowed
• Passengers shall compulsorily walk through Screening Zone for Thermal Screening at a designated place in the city side before entering the terminal building
• Use of trolleys to be discouraged in departure and arrival area. However, select few passengers, requiring trolley due to genuine reasons, to be provided on a request basis
• Airport operators shall make appropriate arrangement for sanitisation of baggage
• Plexiglass covering check-in and security check counters
• Support staff handling passengers with special needs like wheelchair etc. will be in full protective gear
• Passenger seating arrangement inside airports shall be done in such a manner so as to maintain
  social distancing among passengers using the chairs by blocking those seats that are not to be used, with proper markers/tapes
• All airport staff handling the flight should be provided with hand sanitisers and all essential Personal Protective Equipment such as face masks etc. as per guidelines issued by MOHFW
• No newspaper/magazines will be provided in terminal building/lounges
• Use open-air ventilation inside airports where ever possible instead of Central air-conditioning
• Entire terminal disinfection should be performed using duly approved disinfectants through fogging/spraying machines or physical mopping at regular intervals
• At Boarding Gates, passengers should be allowed to board in batches as per seating arrangements in the aircraft to avoid crisscrossing inside the aircraft

Arrivals

• To maintain social distancing norms, passengers shall be disembarked in batches sequentially
• To ensure social distance, the markings like circle, square should be provided around the baggage collection carousel for ensuring social distancing
• Before handing over luggage to passengers, all bags will be sanitised by airport staff before putting them on the conveyer belt
• Hand sanitisers shall be made available by airport operator for passengers and airport staff at various locations
• Airport operator to ensure that cleanliness and sanitisation of every nook & corner of the building and public areas including washrooms, chairs, counters, trolleys, railings, doors, lifts, escalators, etc to be done before the arrival of the flight and after the last passenger leaves the Terminal Building
• Regular fumigation at taxi pickup and drop off points outside the airport.