Chandigarh International Airport likely to reopen from June

MOHALI: The Chandigarh International Airport is likely to resume operations by June following the Airport Authority of India (AAI) guidelines for opening the domestic sector.
In an advisory to passengers expecting resumption of flights, the AAI said they should carry a hand sanitiser, wear a mask and download the Aarogya Setu application on their mobile phones.
A message on the Twitter handle of the AAI read, “With the possibility of resumption of domestic flights soon, #AAI has released some steps that must be followed so passengers are fully geared up while travelling. Wear a mask, carry a hand sanitizer, keep docs handy & register on #Arogya-SetuApp #AAICares.” “Do web check-in. Carry a print out of boarding card. Maintain 4 feet physical distance from co-passengers,” the AAI’s list of guidelines said.
Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL) chief executive officer (CEO) Ajay Bhardwaj said, “We are fully geared up to start flight operations. We have not received anything in written from the AAI but we will respond positively once we get it. Our office is working as it was before the lockdown and the entire security is in place as it was. Checking of passengers will be done according to the guidelines issued by the government.”
He said the sanitisation of the airport would be done following the directions of the health department.
Sources said the schedule for the domestic sector has been issued for flights resuming in June at important sectors. Air India, however, is yet to start its reservations for flights. The date is yet to be announced.
Domestic and international flight operations were suspended in March, days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the first phase of the nationwide lockdown to check the growth of coronavirus cases.
Last month, when it was reported that several operators were accepting bookings from May 4 — when the second leg of the lockdown was scheduled to end — the government said it had not taken any decision on resuming flight operations.