Domestic flight operations resumed at the Birsa Munda Airport here after two months on Monday, albeit in a skeletal form.
The Ranchi airport handled only eight flights on Monday against the 28 regular flights that it used to handle before domestic flights in India were suspended on March 25 due to the nationwide lockdown imposed in view of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“Flights to and from Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad resumed on Monday,” airport director Vinod Sharma informed The Telegraph. “No other flights operated from Ranchi,” he said.
There were two flights from Delhi and one each from Bangalore and Hyderabad that came to Ranchi and returned, he said.
“The first flight that landed in Ranchi was an AirAsia flight from Bangalore,” the airport director informed.
“The rest of the flights – two from and to Delhi and another from and to Hyderabad – were operated by IndiGo,” Sharma added.
“No other flights landed or took off from here,” Sharma said when asked about flights from cities such as Mumbai that were expected to resume on Monday.
“The (safety and hygiene) instructions given in the Union government’s guidelines were maintained,” he said.
According to the guidelines, passengers had to report at the airport two hours before the scheduled departure time and also have Arogya Setu app downloaded on their phones.
All passengers had to wear masks, undergo thermal screening at the airport and opt for a web check-in.The passengers were also asked to carry a single piece of luggage and a handbag for taking inside the cabin, and attach tags to their luggage themselves.
“These guidelines are meant to ensure minimal |physical contact between passengers and airport and airline staff to maintain social distancing,” Sharma explained.
Last week, the Centre announced domestic flights from May 25, but with specific guidelines. Also, no food will be served on board planes.
