IndiGo To Offer No Food, Airport Buses To Fill Only Half Of Seats

Airline operators such as IndiGo has hinted operating at 50 per cent of capacity after the lockdown.

(File Photo/ AFP)

New Delhi, April 11: With the spurt in Covid 19 cases in the last week, several states in India have imposed stricter measures besides extending the lockdown till the month-end. However, travel services may still take time to function in full gear even after the lockdown. There is a hint from airline operators such as budget carrier IndiGo, which has prepared a post-lockdown strategy regarding the domestic flights. CEO Ronojoy Dutta has informed that the airline will not serve meals in the flights for some time and also cutting down the airport bus service to half the capacity as it will fill only 50 per cent seats. Security officials will be given thermal temperature scanners and passengers will be screened for fever before letting them enter the airport. In order to maintain social distancing, flights will be operating at 50 per cent of their capacity which could translate into higher costs of tickets. Passenger queues will be regulated keep a gap of at least a metre between them. The economic activity has taken a severe hit with travel sector facing its worst times ever. Most airlines have implemented pay cuts for employees with the higher management taking the first blow of the pay cut. CEO Ronojoy Dutta is also taking a 25 per cent cut starting April. SpiceJet has also announced salary cut for its staff with CMD Ajay Singh taking a 30 per cent reduction in salary for March. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared a 21-day nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of virus which has grounded all domestic and international flights. It has put a dent on the revenues of domestic airlines. The number of positive cases in India has crossed 7,447 with 239 deaths reported so far.