New Delhi: Amid the reports of a few airlines opening the bookings, the government on Monday made it clear that domestic and international flights will resume when the government is confident that the coronavirus outbreak has been controlled and poses no danger to Indians.
“Restrictions on domestic, international flights will be lifted when govt is confident that spread of Coronavirus has been controlled, and poses no danger to Indians,” says Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, was quoted by newswire PTI.
Earlier on Sunday, Puri in a series of tweets said that a directive was issued to airlines, restraining them from opening bookings.
“I want to once again say that flight restrictions that are in place as a result of India’s fight against COVID-19 will be lifted once we are confident that spread of the virus has been controlled and it poses no danger to our country and people,” he tweeted.
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Our views & approach on restarting flights have been clearly stated.
On 2nd April, I said “A decision to restart flights after this period remains to be taken” & reiterated this on 5th. On14th when Lockdown extended, I said “we can CONSIDER lifting restrictions” after Lockdown. pic.twitter.com/LkXKkofKsY— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) April 20, 2020
“Since some airlines did not heed our advisory and opened bookings, and started collecting money from flyers, a directive was issued to them on 19th April restraining them from doing so. They were also informed that they will be given sufficient notice and time to commence bookings,” Puri added.
Since some airlines did not heed our advisory & opened bookings & started collecting money from flyers, a directive was issued to them on 19th April restraining them from doing so.
They were also informed that they will be given sufficient notice & time to commence bookings.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) April 20, 2020
Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, 1,553 COVID-19 cases and 36 deaths were reported in the country, taking the total number of positive cases to 17,656.