The government allows meals on all domestic flights; No restriction on carrying reading material on board – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday allowed airlines to serve or sell food on all domestic flights.
The service was suspended by the Center for flight travel of less than 2 hours during the second Covid wave.
Apart from this, the aviation ministry has also allowed airlines to carry reading material like magazines on all flights.
However, food was not banned on international flights during the second wave.
Following an improved pandemic situation and “proper implementation of COVID appropriate practices” by the stakeholders, the Union Aviation Ministry issued an order relaxing some of the restrictions imposed during the second wave.
It also relaxed the norms for cabin crew in terms of wearing PPE gowns.
Usha Padhi, Joint Secretary of the Ministry, gave exemption with immediate effect after issuing the order.
The government is imposing and removing restrictions based on the pandemic situation in the country.
As the second wave began, it recently allowed airlines to operate domestic flights at 100 per cent of their pre-Covid levels.
The fare band for domestic flights is now limited to 15 days, which means only the person buying the ticket for the journey within 15 days has to be sold within the permitted fare range.
The only major restriction that remains in place now is on scheduled international flight which has been suspended since March 2020.
Since last summer, international flights have been allowed under air bubble agreements.
Due to limited capacity under this system, international airfares are skyrocketing and causing great harm to passengers.
The travel industry has requested the government to either increase the number of international flights if it wants to continue with the bubble system or allow scheduled flights with countries where COVID is under control and that India on a reciprocal basis. Accepts vaccines made in India and its certification.