No more mandatory RT-PCR for domestic air travel as India records 4 lakh daily passengers

India's domestic air industry is once again flourishing with passenger traffic reaching pre-covid levels, two years after first lockdown was implemented. As per the latest data shared by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the domestic traffic on Sunday (April 17) reached 4 lakh daily passengers for the first time in two years. Scindia expressed confidence about India's aviation industry getting back to the normal pre-pandemic level.

Calling the domestic passengers "historic" Scindia, he said, "It was a very difficult time in the previous years due to the covid pandemic. We have seen over 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9 lakhs passengers in a day over the last 10 days. I'm confident that travelling--both domestically and internationally, in India is coming back strong."

Not just domestic aviation, but India also resumed scheduled commercial international flights from March 27. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has imposed a fare cap for 15 days due to the pandemic, so the government may control the fare hike on the sale of air tickets for the last time as the airlines companies have urged the Ministry to remove the fare limit. The Ministry had issued a hundred per cent capacity operations after two years.

Meanwhile, he stated that the aviation industry should run under a 100 per cent free market. "It is our endeavour that from the beginning, the aviation market should run on the basis of 100% free market in the sector," he added.

Notably, Scindia has appealed to all air travellers that although the airline companies are to operate at full capacity, "but do not reduce your defences in the pandemic.

""It is my humble request to the air travellers to wear masks and follow the rules. Be sure to wear a mask during the flight," he said. Further, Scindia stressed that the Ministry has withdrawn the mandatory RT-PCR report for domestic travel but "a few states can conduct the test as per their requirement."