Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 12: The Goa International Airport has received directions to ready itself for commercial operations along with major airports across the country. However, sources said that the date of resuming operations is not decided yet.

The centre is working on a systematized plan to resume flight schedules taking into consideration of green zones and areas the virus is widespread, officials said.

A senior official said, "Informally, directions have been issued to prepare for commercial flights. We can't say when the flights will start, it could be in three days, and it could be after a week. Preparations are already on in Goa."

It was pointed out that only the scheduled passenger flights were suspended whereas the airports were operational. Another official in this regard said, "Relief flights, lifeline Udan flights are landing, cargo operations are on. So where is the question of the airport being shut down?"

An official from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said that the civil aviation ministry and the director general of civil aviation are preparing models of flights with smaller aircraft such as Bombadier Q400 and ATR 72-600.

The AAI official said, "Our models showed that smaller aircraft with a capacity of 70-90 passengers will be more viable for airlines in the present scenario as per the passenger load will not be high. The savings on ATF will also be significant for operators, who are already facing steep loses."

Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that resuming of aviation operations would be done in a calibrated manner keeping in mind the safety norms and social distancing which is likely to become the new normal.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday, May 10, said that international flights would be landing at Goa International Airport to facilitate the return of Goans back to the state from abroad. The Goa state government has written to the centre seeking to permit Goans working abroad return via direct flights.