Air travel to soar, AI cancels pilots’ leave
Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: 02.03.2021
Air India has cancelled the leaves of its pilots with immediate effect, in a signal that more flights, perhaps even international, could be allowed soon. The airline sent an order to its pilots on Monday, saying “all leave for cockpit crew stands withdrawn with immediate effect. However, leave may be granted in extreme cases depending on the urgency on a case-to-case basis”.
Senior AI officials say the airline has taken this step as the number of flights operated by the divestment-bound Maharaja are going to increase soon. The government has allowed airlines to operate up to 80% of their pre-Covid levels of domestic flights and has indicated that the cap may be removed in the coming summer schedule if the Covid situation continues to remain in control.
Scheduled domestic air travel is reviving after being allowed to resume on May 25, 2020 following a two-month suspension. Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Monday that February 28, 2021 saw 3,13,668 domestic passengers on 2,353 flights — the highest single day number since resumption of domestic flights.
If this trend continues then the summer schedule that gets into force in Marchend could see the 80% cap on domestic flights and fare bands withdrawn. Scheduled international flights, that were suspended on March 23, 2020, continue to remain suspended. However, India has allowed international flights to and from air bubble countries and on Vande Bharat Mission operations. So far bubbles have been created with over 25 countries. In India, AI has the largest fleet of wide body aircraft used for passenger flights followed by two twin aisle Boeing 787 Dreamliners of Tata Group’s Vistara.
TAKING OFF AGAIN
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