Air India has taken down the message to take bookings for some national and international flights from its website after the government of India clarified that no decision had been taken on starting train or airline services.
Highlights:
- India is under lockdown till 3rd May.
- Air and train services remain suspended.
- Thousands are stuck in and out of India due to the lockdown.
India’s national carrier Air India had posted a message on its website that it was taking bookings for select domestic and international flights.
“Bookings for select Domestic flights for travel from May 04th 2020 and for International flights for travel from June 01st 2020 onwards are open,” the airline had posted.
However, India’s civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri advised airlines on twitter to refrain from booking tickets.
Source: Supplied
“No decision has been taken so far to commence operations of domestic & International flights post the lockdown.
All Airlines have been directed by DGCA India to refrain from booking tickets. They shall be given sufficient notice & time for restarting operations,” minister Puri tweeted.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also clarified that there was no direction/clearance which allows Airlines to start bookings in its earlier notifications.
The DGCA had earlier advised that all flights would remain grounded until May 3rd 2020. India is under lockdown until May 3rd to prevent the spread of coronavirus. All train and airline services for passengers have been suspended during this period.
“All airlines are directed to refrain from booking tickets,” directed DGCA, India’s statutory body for regulation of air transport services.
Thousands of people are stuck outside India waiting for air transport to commence so that they can return home.
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