Operations of domestic airlines to cease with effect from midnight of March 24

New Delhi, Mar 23: Operations of domestic airlines shall cease with effect from the midnight of March 24 till March 31st. This is applicable to domestic and scheduled commercial airlines.

The restrictions however shall not apply to cargo flights, the Government has said.

Earlier Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri said that the government would take a call on banning domestic flights to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The announcement came following a letter from West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, who sought a ban on domestic flights coming into the state. It may be recalled that the Centre had overruled the decision of the Delhi government to ban domestic flights in and out of Delhi.

I, would therefore, request you to kindly arrange to issue necessary instructions to stop all flights coming to West Bengal with immediate effect so that the source of spreading infection is effectively contained and lockdown in the state is implemented in true letter and spirit," the letter by Mamata Banerjee read.

The Centre on Monday said that it was open to reconsidering its position as the demand by the CMs was an understandable one.