Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, May 22: The union ministry of civil aviation has prescribed May 25 for resumption of domestic flights. Initially, partial operations would be allowed. The airport in the city is ready for operating the flights, but it is expected that full operations may begin during June first week.

A clear picture will emerge once the time table is released. Thereafter, it may take a week for the online booking facility of airlines to begin. A view of the fares makes it clear that the airfare between certain cities has almost doubled.

At the airport here, markings have been made to enforce social distance. The airports have also received the guidelines about precautions to be taken by passengers in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

At the international airport here, flights to foreign destinations were suspended with effect from March 22 while domestic flights were stopped from March 25 onward. The last flight at this airport before lockdown was a flight from Mumbai. Three Air India Express aircrafts were stranded here due to lockdown and they were used for airlifting of NRI Kannadigas rom Dubai and Muscat under Vande Bharat mission.

Now, clearance has been given for operation of seven flights from Mangaluru, and date will be fixed on Friday, sources stated. Four SpiceJet flights (two each to Mumbai and Bengaluru), and one IndiGo flight each to Bengaluru, Mumbai and Chennai have now been permitted.

Airport director V V Rao, said that the airport has received instruction to be in readiness to begin domestic flights but the time table of flights has not been received. He confirmed that passenger-friendly initiatives have been provided at the airport.