According to the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), domestic airlines flew 8.99 million passengers last month, as against 5.27 million in October 2020. The number of passengers who flew on domestic carriers in October 2021 increased by more than 70 per cent over the corresponding figures during the same period last year.

Commenting on the development, Jyoti Mayal, President, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) expressed her gratitude to the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia and the DGCA for working tirelessly in the direction and allowing airlines to operate services at full capacity from last month.

TAAI has been linked with various airlines, travel agents and tour operators at the grass root level for making travel hassle free keeping in mind all the safety measures and guidelines released by the Government of India and various state governments for providing an easy passage for intra-state travel.

Welcoming this news and congratulating the authorities, the TAAI President said “Our association has always been an active participant and such good passenger statistics will work as a morale booster for the travel trade. For several months, air carriers operated under various restrictions which refrained people from travelling thus not doing any good to the business post Covid. Now with the services operating at full capacity there is a huge hike in travellers which is a good sign.”

She further added, “Reversing an order which came into effect in April this year, during the second wave of the Covid pandemic, meals can now be allowed on flights with a journey time of less than two hours. This will further enhance the travel experience.