Enough time will be given for re-starting flights, says Directorate General of Civil Aviation

While extending the suspension of domestic and international passenger flight services from May 3 to 17, barring cargo operations, the Civil Aviation regulator on Saturday said that sufficient time will be given to airlines for re-starting operations.

The decision comes a day after the Centre extended the nationwide lockdown with fewer restrictions than the earlier ones.

The civil aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that sufficient notice and time will be given to airlines for restarting operations. "However, it is reiterated that foreign and domestic airlines shall be suitably informed about the opening of their operations whether international to or from India or domestic respectively in due course," the DGCA said in a circular.

The Centre had earlier asked all airlines to refrain from booking tickets till a final decision on flight services is taken.

The DGCA had earlier stopped operations of passenger flights on all domestic and international routes since March 25.

At present, thousands of jobs in the aviation sector is at risk as the government has again extended the lockdown without giving any fiscal relief to the industry.

On Friday, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates and manages the IGI airport here in New Delhi tweeted: "As per the government mandate, all domestic & international scheduled flights operations will continue to remain suspended till 2359 hours IST of 17th May 2020."

"These restrictions will not apply to cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA."