After 60 days, flight operations to resume at Ahmedabad airport

AHMEDABAD: After 60 days, commercial flight operations will finally resume at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport in Ahmedabad on Monday. In line with the notification issued by aviation regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), flight operations to several destinations from Ahmedabad including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Chandigarh, Indore, Kolkata and Jaipur, among others are set to begin from the city airport.
It is learnt that approximately one-third of the total frequency of flight movements, as permitted under the summer schedule for 2020, will operate. Accordingly, some 80 flights are expected to resume operations from the city airport. Interestingly, flight movements are expected to begin from 4am.
Since a curfew – restricting movement of people – from 7pm to 7am has been imposed across the state, passengers moving in and out of the airport might face difficulties.
“Anyone who is going to drop or receive passengers landing at the airport before 7am or after 7pm will be allowed. No special permission needs to be taken for this,” said Vijay Patel, DCP – City Control.
Wearing of masks and face shields will be mandatory before entering the airport terminal building and a kit comprising masks, shields as well as gloves will be provided to passengers at the screening counters, set up outside the terminal building. Web check-in has also been made mandatory for passengers travelling at the airport. Sources in the Airports Authority of India (AAI) confirmed that passengers will be required to maintain social distancing and therefore queues may be longer and it is advised that passengers report to the airport at least two hours prior to departure.
The airport terminal building has also been prepared with toe markings on the floor and markings on the chairs kept in the waiting and security hold area, to ensure social distancing. Sources also confirmed that additional staffers will be deployed in washrooms to ensure cleaning after every single usage, so that necessary hygiene is maintained.