SC Allows Air India To Book Middle Seats In Non-Scheduled Foreign Flights For 10 Days

After 10 days, Air India will have to follow the guidelines issued by Bombay High Court to leave the middle seat vacant. The directions do not apply to domestic flights.

(Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: After a lot of debate, the Supreme Court of India announced in a special sitting on Monday that Air India will be allowed to operate non-scheduled international flights with center seat booking for 10 days.

Air India shall be allowed to operate non-scheduled foreign flights with middle seats booking for next 10 days", says CJI in Supreme Court while hearing urgent petition filed by Centre&Air India against Bombay High Court order to keep middle seats vacant in int'l flights.#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/B5u3tgqoSh

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2020

However, the honorable Court also mentioned that for the international operations after 10 days, Air India should follow the Bombay High Court's direction to keep the middle seat vacant. A bench headed by CJI Bobde passed the border in the petitions filed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India against the May 22 order of Bombay High Court. The Bombay High Court on Friday, May 22, ordered that Air India should comply with the decisions in the circular issued by the Civil Aviation Ministry to keep middle seats vacant concerning its international flights because of the increasing number in COVID cases. However, the Bombay HC clarified that the direction did not apply to domestic flights. Domestic flights have resumed operations today and the first flight left for Pune from Delhi's IGI airport at 4:45 am today.