New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry on Monday issued fresh guidelines to the airlines prohibiting them from serving onboard meals for domestic flights with a duration of less than two hours. This comes as a counter-strategy to contain the spread of covid 19 cases.
The ban would come to effect positively from Thursday, ensured the ministry in its order.
"The Ministry of Civil Aviation, considering the increasing threat of Covid-19 and its variants, has decided to review onboard meal services in domestic flight operations," an official notification said on Monday. Read more
This decision was taken as passengers onboard take off their masks to eat thereby increasing the chances of contracting and spreading the virus.
Last year, the civil aviation ministry issued guidelines for onboard meals which had worked well. However, keeping in mind the recent massive hike of coronavirus cases from across the country, the ministry had announced additional provisions which include the prohibition of onboard meals in domestic flights with the duration of journey less than two hours. Read more
The massive spike in the coronavirus cases has called forth Air India to conduct 100% pre-flight testing for crew operating nonstop from UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
Since domestic flights resumed from May last year, Air India was providing its pilot with hotel stay with meals so that they don't need to leave their hotel rooms. Last month, the airline also started bed and breakfast as the covid 19 situations were improving.
Due to the rise of covid 19, the number of domestic passengers has been falling drastically and the prohibitions imposed to further going to be a blow for the low-cost carriers reckons an airline official. Read more
India on Monday has surpassed Brazil to be the second-worst affected country by a coronavirus, only behind the USA with 1,68,912 fresh cases of Covid 19 reported overnight, which is by far the record highest number of cases reported in a single day. This single-day highest spike of coronavirus cases has taken the total tally of cases up to an alarming 1,35,27,717.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Guwahati had recorded an alarming spike of 186 new Covid-19 cases, while Assam reported another 352 fresh Covid-19 cases taking the total tally of caseload to 1,902.
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