Guidelines for Domestic Air Travel in India

Domestic as well as international flights have started resuming their services in India. Based on the guidelines set by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, there are several rules and regulations that every passenger should follow from entering the airport until completing the journey and coming out of the airport. It is to be ensured that all these guidelines are taken into consideration so that the journey can be completed in a hassle-free manner. 

Here are what every passenger should follow while travelling within India.

Guidelines to be Followed From Origin to Airport

These are the guidelines set by the Ministry of Civil Aviation that have to be strictly followed by all the air passengers from the point of origin to the airport:

• Social distancing 
• A self-declaration/Aarogya Setu App status (for compatible device) would also be obtained that the passenger is free of COVID-19 symptoms. Passengers with “Red” status in Aarogya Setu App would not be permitted to travel.
• Digital payments 
• Use of authorized taxis 
• Baggage limitations – Only one check-in bag & one cabin bag allowed
• Vulnerable people like very elderly, pregnant women & passengers with ailments are advised to avoid travel
• No physical check-in would be done at airport counters. Ensure web check-in & get a boarding pass
• Passenger to download the baggage tag or Baggage identification number, print it and affix it on the bag at a prominent place 
• In case the passenger is unable to print the baggage tag, then he/she should mention the PNR number and his/her name on a thick piece of paper and tag it with a strong string.
• Before entering the terminal, passenger to ensure he/she is wearing a mask
• Passenger to report at the airport as per revised reporting time, i.e. 2 hours before departure time. 
• Passenger to travel in an authorized taxi/personal vehicle following the norms specified by MHA 
• During transit to airport, passenger to take all precautions to prevent infection
• Passenger to certify the status of his/her health through the Aarogya Setu app/ self-declaration form

Guidelines to be Followed at the Security Hold Area

Following are the government guidelines to be followed by the air passengers at the security hold area:

• Passenger to proceed to security hold area after security screening
• While waiting in the security hold area, passenger to maintain social distancing and sanitization protocol 
• Chairs marked ‘Not For Use’ should not be occupied
• While going around F&B, retail outlets, etc, passengers should be aware of social distancing and maintain hygiene. Also, he/she should be aware of the locations where sanitizers would be made available. 
• Passenger to dispose of all the biohazardous material like used masks, gloves, tissues etc. in the yellow-coloured disposable bins/bags placed at strategic locations at the airport

Guidelines to be Followed While Boarding the Flight

While the passengers board the flight, the following guidelines must be strictly adhered to:

• Passengers to be attentive towards various communication material displayed at the airport about various health advisories related to pre-boarding and during the flight precautions 
• Passengers to collect the safety kit (three-layered surgical mask and sanitizer) from the airlines near the boarding gate 
• Passengers to wear mask and sanitize his/her hands before proceeding to the boarding gate for scanning of the boarding pass 
• Passengers to be attentive towards boarding announcements and reach the boarding queue by following social distancing 
• Display of identity cards by passengers is a must & Check-in of the boarding pass would be done by the passenger by self-scanning of e-boarding pass 

Guidelines to be Followed Inside the Aircraft

While inside the aircraft, the passengers are to strictly follow these rules:

• During the flight, passengers to strictly follow hygiene and sanitation. Face to face interaction to be minimized 
• Passenger to minimize the use of toilets and avoid any non-essential movement in the aisles 
• No queuing at the toilets and only one companion for children and the elderly would be allowed 
• No meal service in the aircraft. Water bottle to be made available in the galley area or on the seats. Eatables not to be consumed during the flight 
• No newspaper/magazine will be available, no onboard sale of any item 
• If the passenger feels uncomfortable, fatigued or has respiratory distress, it should be brought to the immediate notice of the crew 

Guidelines to be Followed From Airport to Destination

After the journey is completed, these are the government guidelines to be strictly followed by passengers from the airport to the destination:

Guidelines on Arrival 

• The disembarkation from the airlines would be sequential 
• To disembark, passengers to strictly follow the instructions of the crew 
• Social distance/sanitation should be maintained at the arrival gate, aerobridges, coaches, jet ladders, ramps etc 
• Trolleys in the arrival area to be used sparingly 

Guidelines on Baggage Collection 

• Passenger to wait at the baggage hold area till the baggage arrives in batches
• Transit passengers will not be allowed to come out of the transit area  

Guidelines on Exit from Airport

• Passengers to hire only authorized taxis from the 
• Passengers to follow social distancing and hygiene  while travelling in any mode of transportation 
• On arrival at the destination, passengers to adhere to  health protocols as prescribed by the destination State/ UT