Domestic Airlines Allowed To Increase Passenger Limit To 85% Of Pre-COVID Capacity

New Delhi: Following the fall in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Centre on Saturday allowed the domestic airlines to increase the maximum limit of passengers to 85 per cent of pre-COVID capacity.

The airlines can now operate with a maximum of 85% of their pre-COVID domestic flights in place of 72.5% allowed till date, the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated in an order.

Following the spread of the pandemic, the passenger capacity of the domestic carriers were brought down to 72.5% from August 12. The government had capped the limit at 65% from July 5 to August 12 and at 50% between June 1 and July 5.

When the government resumed the operation of the domestic flights on May 25 last year after two-month break, the ministry allowed the carriers to operate not more than 33% of their pre-COVID capacity. The maximum limit was gradually increased to 80% from December last year to June 1 this year.