The Delhi airport saw its first departure at 4.45 am to Pune while Mumbai airport’s first departure was at 6.45 am to Patna, the officials said. (Express photo: Nirmal Harindran)
Confusion and chaos prevailed on Monday as after a hiatus of two months amid reluctance by various states to open up their airports in view of rising cases of novel coronavirus. Passengers were greeted with long queues and a large number of flights were cancelled on Monday across the country.
The resumption of air travel came with a few hiccups in the first few hours itself as several flyers took to social media to register their grievances against airlines, particularly Air India. Several people travelled long distances only to find that their flights had been cancelled. Of the approximately 380 flights that were scheduled for today in the national capital, 82 (both departures and arrivals) were already cancelled by afternoon. And more than 20 flights were also called off in Bengaluru.
Domestic flight operations started from Chandigarh International Airport on Monday. (Express photo: Jasbir Malhi)
Besides cancellations, there was confusion over quarantine procedures too. Most of the state governments decided to put the passengers arriving from other states in an institutional quarantine of seven to 14 days. Others made home quarantine for a fortnight mandatory for the travellers. Despite being vocal against the resumption of domestic flights, Maharashtra — which is worst hit by Covid-19 — allowed Mumbai airport to handle 50 domestic flights per day.
Indigo flight 6E643 was the first aircraft of the day to take off from Delhi airport this morning. (Express photo: Tashi Tobgyal)
At the airport, thermal screening, social distancing measures were put in place. The Delhi airport saw its first departure at 4.45 am to Pune while Mumbai airport’s first departure was at 6.45 am to Patna, the officials said.
A collection of videos from airports across India on Day 1 of resumption of flight services
The first pushback out of @DelhiAirport today:
6E-643 of IndiGo Delhi to Pune which departed at 4:45 AM#aviation during #Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/LMyJIQyynF
— Arindam Majumder (@ari_maj) May 25, 2020
Watch: Aviation security @CISFHQrs screening passengers @DelhiAirport on first day of #domesticflights ✈️ starts. pic.twitter.com/8LUGpXhqLc
— Ashoke Raj (@Ashoke_Raj) May 25, 2020
After two months long #lockdown, the first #DomesticFlight @IndiGo6E was took off ✈️ from @DelhiAirport to #Pune in the early morning. @ChhaviLeekha #avgeeks pic.twitter.com/Hsd0k56jKH
— Ashoke Raj (@Ashoke_Raj) May 25, 2020
Bengaluru: A five-year-old boy who travelled in Special Category alone from Delhi to Bangalore. Mother Manjeesh Sharma came to pick him up from the airport. pic.twitter.com/95h4d6ZxHj
— Tauseef Sheikh (@tauseefjourno) May 25, 2020
Watch: @OfficialStarAir Aircraft landed after two months from #Bengaluru at #Belagavi Airport on Monday 8.14 am. According to @aaiblgairport 8 passangers flew down to Belagavi. Video by: @aaiblgairport@IndianExpress | @DarshanDevaiahB pic.twitter.com/nmIn8smiQa
— Express Bengaluru (@IEBengaluru) May 25, 2020
Social Distancing in the lifts at Mumbai Airport @CSMIA_Official
Domestic flights in India resume today in limited capacity. Only 25 landings & 25 take offs allowed in Mumbai, which is a hotspot of the #Coronavirus outbreak in India #Covid_19india pic.twitter.com/mwrwLKtt7L— Janhavee Moole (@janhavee) May 25, 2020
Day 1 of airports being operational post lockdown. Visuals of #Mumbaiairport pic.twitter.com/4nVwTeNsqr
— Arti_Ghargi (@arti_ghargi) May 25, 2020