- Mumbai will soon have improved domestic air connectivity with the state government agreeing to increase daily flights by about 50%.
- Airlines have been allowed to add flights to and from Mumbai whenever they can. The increase should kick in from early next week.
Mumbai will soon have improved domestic air connectivity with the state government’s approval to increase daily flights by about 50%. Currently, 100 daily domestic arrivals and as many departures are allowed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). This number is being increased to 150 daily domestic arrivals and as many departures from this month — taking the number of 200 domestic arrivals-cum-departures to 300.
Airlines have been allowed to add flights to and from Mumbai whenever they can. The increase should kick in from early next week. Similarly, Chennai — which currently allows 50 daily domestic departures and as many arrivals — is doubling these numbers. Once these restrictions are relaxed, there is going to be a significant increase in domestic air travel base, said senior airline and airport officials.
This extended weekend recorded healthy traveler numbers. While October 2 saw 1,76,601 domestic passengers — the highest daily number since scheduled flights resumed on May 25 with 30,000 people flying within the country on Day One. If the pandemic spread remains under control and states don’t re-impose restrictions, the aviation ministry expects domestic air travel to return to the pre-COVID level of over three lakh daily passengers between Diwali (November 14) and the year-end.
Delhi Airport has made terminal 2 operational from this month to allow more domestic flights. Recently Delhi and Mumbai airports made COVID testing facilities operational for incoming international passengers so that a negative test report can allow them to take connecting domestic flights. Airport operators have requested the government to allow testing against payment for any passenger.
