No domestic commercial passenger flight would be allowed to operate in the country from 25 March to 31 March, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement on Monday, 23 March, in order to restrict travel amid the coronavirus pandemic.
India has already banned international flights for a week from Sunday.
“The operations of domestic schedule commercial airlines shall cease with effect from the midnight that is 23.59 hours IST (11.59 pm) on 24 March 2020.”Aviation Ministry spokesperson
Restrictions Don’t Apply to Cargo Flights
"Airlines have to plan operations so as to land at their destinations before 23:59 hours on 24 March 2020," the spokesperson added.
However, the spokesperson clarified that the restrictions would not apply to cargo flights.
Earlier during the day, aviation regulator DGCA had clarified on Twitter that all cargo flights – domestic and international – can operate as usual.
Catch all the live updates on the novel coronavirus here.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)