Mumbai: To achieve normalcy in the domestic aviation sector, the government on Thursday allowed the airlines to operate up to 80% capacity of pre-COVID flights on domestic flights, up from the 70% permitted before Diwali. ALSO READ | Farmers-Centre Meet: Govt Assures No Changes Will Be Made In MSP, Farmers Remain Firm On Rollback Of Laws The measure will bring much relief to carriers looking to increase capacity to fly more passengers, given that Christmas and New Year are around the corner. "Domestic operations recommenced with 30K (30,000) passengers on 25 May & have now touched a high of 2.52 lakhs on 30 Nov 2020. Ministry of Civil Aviation is now allowing domestic carriers to increase their operations from the existing 70% to 80% of pre-Covid approved capacity." Civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted on Thursday to further ease restrictions for the sector hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The minister's announcement on Twitter came ahead of an official statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). Domestic airlines resumed domestic operations on 25 May, after being grounded for two months during a government-imposed lockdown to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. ALSO READ | 'Farmers Who Suicide Are Cowards' Karnataka Agriculture Minister BC Patil Passes Bizarre Tone-Deaf Remark

Phase-wise easing of restrictions:

This would be the fifth time that the government has allowed airlines to expand capacity since flight services were restarted in May this year. The airlines were allowed to operate not more than 33% of their pre-Covid domestic flights. On June 26, this was increased to 45%, and on September 2, it was further increased to 60%. On November 11, the minister said that the Indian airlines can operate up to 70% of their pre-Covid domestic passenger flights due to the prevailing demand amid the coronavirus situation. According to Mr. Puri¸, on December 2, 2020, the number of domestic passengers grows steadily towards the pre-COVID levels, with 2,32,364 passengers traveling on 2040 flights. There were 4082 flight movements and 4,67,238 numbers of footfalls at the airport. The numbers, however, are still way below pre-pandemic figures. Domestic airlines carried about 5.27 million passengers in October, down 57% year-on-year, according to the latest data from DGCA.

Suspension of international flights till December 31, 2020, to continue

The government's decision of extended suspension of scheduled international flights till December 31, 2020, will continue in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases globally, extending an eight-month halt on scheduled overseas flights that were to supposed end on 30 November. However, scheduled flights under the Vande Bharat Mission and air bubble arrangements with several countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Germany will continue. WATCH | Exclusive: AIIMS Director Guleria answers questions on Covid vaccine in India