New Delhi (NVI): The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked both domestic and international airlines not to book tickets beyond May 3 as there has been no official direction or clearance by the government so far to allow the airlines to start bookings for the journeys to be undertaken from May 4.
DGCA issued an order in this regard yesterday, noting that some airlines had started booking tickets beyond May 3, assuming that flight operations will resume once the lockdown is lifted.
“In these Circulars, there was no direction/clearance, which allows the airlines to start bookings for the journeys to be undertaken wef the 4th of May 2020. Further it has been noted that airlines have started booking tickets for journeys wef from 4th of May 2020. In this respect, it is brought to the notice of all concerned that no decision to commence the operation of domestic/international flights wef the 4th of May 2020 has been taken yet. In view of this, all airlines are hereby directed to refrain from booking tickets as described above,” the DGCA order read.
The order also informed that airlines will be given sufficient notice and time for restarting the operations.
Earlier on Saturday, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had advised airlines to open bookings only after the government takes a decision on resuming passenger flights.
As part of the extended nationwide lockdown to manage the spread of COVID-19, all rail and air travel (both domestic and international) has been suspended till May 3.
