Domestic flights to resume

The National Main Stories

PEOPLE will be allowed to fly within the country from this week with the National Operating Command Centre (NOCC) the only authority to issue clearance to travellers, says state of emergency (SOE) Controller David Manning.
Comm Manning, also the Police Comm, said during day 21 of the Covid-19 SOE update yesterday that clearance would be issued to students, citizens returning to their homes, essential workers and essential businesses only.
“There will also be emergency clearance given for special flights which may include the repatriation of (the) dead,” he said.
“Let me also remind airline companies to please adhere to the safety measures that have been issued in response to Covid-19.”
Comm Manning said checkpoints would continue but one at the Central-NCD borders would be relaxed to allow transportation of food crops into the city.
“We are also now nearing completion of security deployment into border provinces which still remains as the NOCC-19’s priority area,” he said.
Comm Manning also said talks were in place on bringing home about 530 Papua New Guineans stranded overseas.
Meanwhile, one-way tickets are to be issued to persons returning to their usual place of residence, he said.
Under this emergency direction, valid reasons for air travel include:

  • Students returning to their usual place of residence or returning to their educational institution (one-way ticket to be issued);
  • Essential services; (including all health workers, police, Defence, Immigration and border security);
  • Essential exempted business travel; and
  • Emergency transport, including but not limited to repatriation of deceased persons.

“We are determined to prevent the spread of Covid-19, so I ask for your patience, understanding and cooperation,” Comm Manning said.
He added that the approval process for domestic travel should be ready today.
“I beg the patience of all our people. “This is a process that we have not taken lightly and therefore due diligence has been observed throughout the whole process.
“So by anyone who wishes to travel domestically, can apply for approval online on the Covid-19 web page.
“Approval will be given should you meet all the strict guidelines we will have in place to protect you from the pandemic.
“This will be an added responsibility and burden on your time but it is absolutely necessary for all our safety and wellbeing.”

25 comments

  • Thanks controller Manning, PM and other surbodinates who have put in effort to contain this pandemic as much as we can.
    Message is very clear and very well planned.
    Once again really appreciate your effort.

  • We want to go back home as we are financially suffering. And tell p.m modi it’s easy to issue statements.

  • Sir I want to go back to my hometown .I am locked down in Delhi.Came here for my mom’s operation.but now we want to go back.Please help.

  • And also, they should restrict people from migrating unnecessarily into cities especially pom during these very critical times which also have greater impact on our economy. no rural to urban drift, do gardening and stay at home.

  • What about the people who are working in UAE if we will not reach there we will loos job,atleast for few days resume flights for UAE for resident Visa holder.pleas

  • I came on 1 month vacation and if I’ll not reach soon UAE again I’ll loos my job as u can see all companies doing cost cutting in staff due to indian government I’ll loos my job,resume flight for resident Visa holder please and we have family also there how long we can keep them there alone,corona will kill letter first money and all this problem will kill us for sure.pleas do something

  • Presently we are in Gandhidham Gujarat. We are stuck here since 21st March. We need to go to Tamil Nadu to our home town. Flight tickets booked twice and journeys left behind due to lockdown.

    Kindly guide us to get rid of this situation.

  • Respected sir, we want to go our home town Kolkata from Nillgiri District (Tamil Nadu). We have four family members. We work here a CBSE school.

  • My husband is lockdown in Kerala.. And I’m pregnant plz plz do some thing… what can I do now…..???

  • We are lockdown in CMC VELLORE for my wife’s medical treatment since last one month. Our son is left our home in Howrah, West Bengal with home servant. Now we want to go to our home. Please assist us to solve this problem.

  • My Dad is all alone at home. My mom came to visit us in Delhi me my 2 younger brothers we are all students we don’t have a house also we’re stuck so badly here. Please get us out from here.we so badly want to go home. My dad is old and alone at home. Please take us home

  • Hello,
    I’m stuck here in zamboanga city, I want to go back to Paris france where I lived
    Yes i am with my family here ,but i have no money to spend..
    I hope they will sort this local flight soon …thank you so much

  • Respected Sir
    my son is student of MIT. Pune he stuck up in Mumbai due lockdown. Requested to pls provide some arrange to came back his residence at gurgaon . We are eagerly waiting for him.

  • Credits and acknowledgement goes to PM James Marape, Hon. Bryan Kramer with the Government and Police Commissioner Mr. Manning and the effective containment teams on the ground like Health Dept, Disciplinary Forces and otger for job well executed..The ent

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