Domestic flights to resume from June 1
The civil aviation ministry yesterday decided to resume domestic flight operations on a limited scale from June 1. The resumption comes after more than two months of ban on regular passenger flights on all international and domestic routes to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
"We have decided to resume domestic flight operations on a limited scale initially on Dhaka to and from Chattogram, Sylhet and Saidpur routes," Civil Aviation and Tourism ministry senior secretary M Mohibul Haque said yesterday.
After observing the situation, the ministry will consider reopening all seven domestic destinations, including Jashore and Rajshahi, after June 15, the official added.
"We are also considering withdrawing the ongoing ban on international flight operations after June 15 depending on the situation," he said, adding that the government is considering the resumption of flights to London.
The decision was taken following the government's announcement that the ongoing general holidays will not be extended after May 30, and that starting May 31, public transportation on road, rail, waterways and air will be allowed on a limited scale.
The government on March 16 suspended regular flight operation on all domestic and international routes except for China to contain Covid-19 until May 30.
The suspension included all domestic flights while cargo, special, air ambulance, relief carrying flights and emergency landing aircraft remained out of its scope.
Last week, CAAB prepared a guideline for airlines with instructions for how to run flights following all health guidelines, including social distancing.
According to the document, all airlines will have to keep at least 30 to 25 percent seats vacant on each flight to ensure social distancing by keeping a gap of at least a seat between two passengers, unless they are from the same family.
Additionally, front or last row seats must remain vacant on each flight for carrying passengers suspected of contracting the coronavirus. During check-in, passengers' body temperature will be measured.
If any such passenger is found, crew members should immediately contact the destination airport and hand the passenger over to airport health authority immediately after landing.
The guideline also contains instructions on protective gear for airline staffer and cabin crew, social distancing for cabin crew, and mandates that no food and drink be served in flights with less than one-and-a-half hours airtime.
Apart from the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital, the CAAB also asked officials of the country's other two international airports, in Chattogram and Sylhet, and all domestic airports to carry out disinfecting activities on a regular basis.
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