Now, domestic airlines can operate with 60% capacity

In further easing of restrictions, the government on Wednesday permitted Indian airlines to increase the number of domestic passenger flights to 60% of their pre-COVID services, according to an official order.

On June 26, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had allowed the airlines to operate a maximum of 45% of their pre-COVID domestic flights.

The ministry had restarted domestic passenger services from May 25, after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.

However, the airlines were allowed to operate not more than 33% of their pre-COVID domestic flights.

Modifying its previous order of June 26 where it had put the 45% limit on the number of domestic flights, the ministry issued an order on Wednesday stating that, "45% capacity may be read as 60% capacity."

The average occupancy rate in domestic flights since their resumption in India on May 25 has been around 50-60% only.

Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in the country since March 23 due to the pandemic.

However, special international flights have been operating under Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral air bubble pacts signed with various countries since July.

India's COVID-19 tally of cases galloped past 37 lakh on Wednesday with 78,357 new instances of the disease reported in a day, said the Union Health Ministry. The death toll climbed to 66,333 with 1,045 more fatalities reported in 24 hours.