The extension would not just help domestic travellers flying from the capital save money, but also a hassle-free travel experience, writes Jagdish Kumar.
The restriction doesn't apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA. International scheduled flights on selected routes are also exempted.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said due to the surge in Covid cases and fall in passenger traffic, the airlines' seat capacity may be lowered from 80 to 50 per cent.
For flights that are longer than two hours, airlines can serve pre-packed snacks, meals and beverages. This is to ensure all people don't remove their masks at the same time.
The guidelines issued for strict compliance include periodical checks of the aircraft to ensure that passengers are complying with the protocol, especially regarding wearing masks.
Passenger traffic isn't expected to recover until 2024, which makes Singapore Airlines particularly vulnerable as it has no domestic market to fall back on.
For an industry globally classified as hazardous, protections such as health insurance and a provident fund for workers are necessities. In Sivakasi, they remain elusive.
The industry forecasts exports are set to grow 16% in 2025-26, boosted by surplus domestic production and a drive to push into 26 underserved global markets with strong potential.
Indigenisation level will progressively increase up to 60 percent with key sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts being manufactured locally.
It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.
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