NEW DELHI: Maharashtra has exempted airline crew from the requirement of carrying a negative test report from anyone flying to the state from Covid hotspots of Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa.
The rule, applicable equally to air and train arrivals to Maharashtra, comes into effect from Wednesday to prevent an increase in positive cases in the state.
Air travellers now need to get the
Covid test done within 72 hours of their flight.
Maharashtra chief secretary Sanjay Kumar issued an order exempting flight crew from this requirement on Wednesday.
Titled “exemption from RT-PCR test for all in-flight and cockpit crew of all airlines at all airports in the state”, it says: “The state government has received a request from Air India stating that it is operating Vande Bharat flights and multiple cargo flights in and out of Maharashtra on a regular basis. This involves large number of flight and cockpit crew to travel into Maharashtra from various states to either operate or be positioned for flight duties on a daily basis.”
“However as per the guidelines of the State, Covid RT-PCR test has been made compulsory for all persons arriving at the airports which leads to delays in scheduling of flights. In the light of the above, it is stated that henceforth, all on duty cabin crew and cockpit crew of all airlines carrying valid identity cards be exempted from RT-PCR test at all airports in Maharashtra subject to following of all necessary Covid related protocols by the respective airlines in (this) regard,” it says.