New Delhi (NVI): Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today said that a record of 2,73,845 passengers on flights flew across India on Sunday, setting a new high since domestic flights resumed in May last year.
He added that this is taking us even closer to the pre-COVID numbers.
“2,73,845 passengers on 2,179 flights yesterday is a new high since domestic flights resumed on 25 May 2020. This takes us even closer to the Pre-COVID numbers. Flying has emerged as the chosen mode of transport which offers efficiency, safety & predictability,” the minister tweeted.
2,73,845 passengers on 2,179 flights yesterday is a new high since domestic flights resumed on 25 May 2020. This takes us even closer to the Pre-COVID numbers. Flying has emerged as the chosen mode of transport which offers efficiency, safety & predictability. pic.twitter.com/AcJp51RGkN
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 11, 2021
Puri also shared statistics which shows that there were 4,360 flight movements across the country and 5,46,763 footfalls at the airport on the day.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) data, the previous new high of 2,52,374 was recorded on December 1.
All scheduled commercial passenger flights were suspended in India on March 25, 2020 after the government imposed a lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus, while domestic flights resumed services from May 25 in a gradual manner.
The domestic flights were, initially, allowed to operate only 33 per cent of pre-COVID flights, which was increased to 45 per cent and then to 60 per cent during the first week of September.
The ministry in December last year, increased the domestic flights operations from existing 70 per to 80 per cent of pre-COVID approved capacity.
Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier also extended the suspension of all international flight operations in the country till January 31.
-RJV
