New Delhi: The Indian aviation industry was able to breathe a little easier in 2021 as domestic flight operations reached their pre-pandemic levels even though international services continued to remain curtailed due to Covid-related travel restrictions.
Air India’s sale to the Tata Group and arrival of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed new airline Akasa Air in 2021 are likely to introduce more competition and change the dynamics of the Indian aviation sector in the coming years.
While the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) removed all capacity restriction on scheduled domestic flights on October 18, the lower and upper limits on domestic air fares continue to remain in place.
Both — capacity restriction and fare limits — were imposed by the MoCA from May 25, 2020, when scheduled domestic flights resumed after a two-month-long suspension due to COVID-19.
Though the MoCA announced on November 26 that scheduled international flights would resume from December 15, the decision was suspended on December 1 in the wake of spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus.
Scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020. Currently, special passenger flights have been operating between India and approximately 32 countries on the basis of air bubble arrangements signed with them.
With US-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing making all necessary software rectifications in 737 Max plane to the satisfaction of Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the ban on the aircraft’s commercial flight operations was lifted after 27 months.
—PTI

Press Trust of India