India could resume international air travel before August in some sectors, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Saturday.

“I am hopeful that before August or September, we will try to start a good percentage of international civil aviation operations, if not complete international operations,” the aviation minister said during a Facebook live session.

“I cannot put a date on it (restarting international flights). But if somebody says can it be done by August or September, my response is why not earlier depending on what is the situation,” he said.

Puri said Indians who live abroad but are stranded in India because international flights were cancelled will soon be able to go back as the government is working on it.

The domestic civil aviation operations will recommence in a calibrated manner from May 25 after two months of hiatus.

Under the fourth phase of the lockdown, which will continue till May 31, significant relaxations have been granted to various sectors to ease the blow on the economy.

Puri said there’s no contradiction between the resumption of flights and the extension of the fourth phase of the nationwide lockdown.

“We will be able to bring around 50,000 citizens back through special flights during the first 25 days of Vande Bharat Mission,” he said.

During his interaction the minister said he did not understand the need to quarantine domestic fliers who show “green” status on the Aarogya Setu app. He made a similar point during a press briefing on Thursday, during which he revealed details of revised flight operations, including air fares.

As many as six states, including Kerala, Karnataka and Assam, have insisted that people arriving in domestic flights will be quarantined.

He pointed out that according to revised rules governing air travel during the lockdown, those showing a “red” status on the Aarogya Setu app would not even be allowed to enter the airport.

“I don’t know why we are making such a fuss on the quarantine issue. Bhai, this is domestic travel. Same laws will apply here that applies when you travel by train or a bus... People who are positive will not be allowed to board the flights,” he said.

Puri said the government will be able to facilitate the return of NRIs much before international air travel is resumed.

“We are now increasing the number of Vande Bharat flights,” Puri said.

Foreign nationals who are stranded in India have already been returning in the evacuation flights their respective nations have been organising.

The proposed facility for NRIs may be put in place as early as mid-June. “We must have a more ambitious goal. Why not start by mid-June or June end or July?” the minister said. He also assured that from May 15, airports and the ancillary industry were ready.