Flying back to normalcy

With the government now allowing airlines to operate at full capacity, it signals return of business activity, which will boost confidence of citizens. A stream of good news thus continues for the aviation sector, which has been battling extreme turbulence for the past couple of years and its woes exacerbated by the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. The addition of a new airline like Akasa and the rebirth of Air India also hold out a renewed sense of optimism for the stakeholders.

However, we should not forget past experience and must ensure Covid protocols are strictly adhered to. Airlines must also ensure that the middle seat PPE kit rule enforcement is not flouted. Scenes at the Mumbai airport last week, where many people had to suffer a harrowing experience due to overcrowding at Terminal 2 need to be avoided. With people looking to travel after many months of anxiety and health scares, the road to normalcy should not be rocked by a boorish approach.

We must remember that though the number of Covid patients has been plateauing, the infection is, by no means, over and another wave can come rushing back if we lower our guard. The positivity rate has gone down from 5.86% earlier to 1.68% at the beginning of October.

Otherwise, it won’t be long before the present environment filled with relief is grounded by another wave of devastation. The reluctance to follow strict Covid protocols has been our bane in combating the spread of the deadly virus. The second wave inflicted further misery on us and unless citizens realise the importance of protocols, the country will continue to suffer.

The airlines sector is labour intensive and in the interest of a lot many people who earn their bread from this sector, the aviation industry must emerge from the distress through which it is passing. The end of turbulence appears to be near. Our callousness should not cripple the sector any again.