Patna: With the rise in number of coronavirus cases in the state, footfall of passengers at Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport here has fallen drastically in the last few weeks. Occupancy of seats has come down from earlier 80-85% to 45-50% in incoming as well as outgoing flights.
Executives of different airlines said only migrants and people who have urgent businesses are flying in and out of the city.
A GoAir executive at Patna airport on Monday said the footfall of flyers has reduced by 50% following rise in coronavirus cases in Bihar, Maharashtra and Delhi. “People are scared to travel due to Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in Patna and other cities,” he said.
An executive of IndiGo, which operates maximum number of flights from city airport, also expressed similar opinion. “Only the migrants and those with urgent work opt for air travel,” he said.
Some flyers even cancel their tickets following enforcement of fresh lockdown in Patna. Shivam Porwal, who lives in Ahmedabad and was supposed to visit his family in Patna on July 16, cancelled his ticket. “The Covid cases are increasing rapidly in Bihar. It is risky to visit my parents, who live on the outskirts of Patna,” he said.
Md Danish, a city-based travel agent, said air ticket business was badly hit due to rise in Covid cases. “After the enforcement of lockdown, several people cancelled their trips, especially to Mumbai and Delhi,” he said.
Through its twitter handle, the Patna airport has informed the flyers about the precautionary measures being taken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI)-Patna and other stakeholders.
“Whether it is day or night, safety remains top priority for #AAI. Our safety services teams are always on alert round the clock to meet any challenge. Night inspections and safety drills are part of measures to keep the flight operations safe at all times (sic),” the Patna airport tweeted on Sunday.
14/07/20 Faryal Rumi/Times of India
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Executives of different airlines said only migrants and people who have urgent businesses are flying in and out of the city.
A GoAir executive at Patna airport on Monday said the footfall of flyers has reduced by 50% following rise in coronavirus cases in Bihar, Maharashtra and Delhi. “People are scared to travel due to Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in Patna and other cities,” he said.
An executive of IndiGo, which operates maximum number of flights from city airport, also expressed similar opinion. “Only the migrants and those with urgent work opt for air travel,” he said.
Some flyers even cancel their tickets following enforcement of fresh lockdown in Patna. Shivam Porwal, who lives in Ahmedabad and was supposed to visit his family in Patna on July 16, cancelled his ticket. “The Covid cases are increasing rapidly in Bihar. It is risky to visit my parents, who live on the outskirts of Patna,” he said.
Md Danish, a city-based travel agent, said air ticket business was badly hit due to rise in Covid cases. “After the enforcement of lockdown, several people cancelled their trips, especially to Mumbai and Delhi,” he said.
Through its twitter handle, the Patna airport has informed the flyers about the precautionary measures being taken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI)-Patna and other stakeholders.
“Whether it is day or night, safety remains top priority for #AAI. Our safety services teams are always on alert round the clock to meet any challenge. Night inspections and safety drills are part of measures to keep the flight operations safe at all times (sic),” the Patna airport tweeted on Sunday.
14/07/20 Faryal Rumi/Times of India
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