CAAB allows airlines to operate with 70% passengers

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB) has issued a guideline saying it will allow airlines to resume domestic flights with a maximum of 70 percent passengers in order to maintain social distance. 

The aviation authority has also asked airlines to prepare for resuming domestic flight operations from May 8 on a limited scale. 

"The date of resuming flight operations has not been finalised yet, but the airlines have been asked to get ready for domestic flight operations maintaining social distancing guidelines," said Air Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman, chairman of CAAB.

Moreover, airlines must provide masks and gloves to the passengers as protective measures to contain the spread of coronavirus. 

Airlines have been given timing slots for flight operations to avert crowds in the security checking process. A flight will be allowed to take off 45 minutes after another one. 

Previously, several flights could operate at the same time.

"As a result, an airline will be able to operate fewer flights in a day," said Mofidur. 

Earlier on April 27, CAAB had extended the flight suspension in both domestic and international routes, for the fourth time, till May 7 amid a countrywide shutdown after the Covid-19 outbreak in March.

The restriction of flight operations on international routes is applicable for 16 countries: Bahrain, Bhutan, Hong Kong, India, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE and the UK.

However, cargo transportation and special flight operations will remain normal.