35% flights remain cancelled amidst COVID-19 second wave

Amid the second wave of COVID-19 cases and restrictions on movement, airlines have taken a severe hit as demand for air travel reduced drastically in April. Strict restrictions and mandatory COVID-19 test have forced people to reconsider their travel plans.

Over the last few days, most airlines have cancelled 20-35 percent of flights and are flying at 50-60 percent of the pre-COVID capacity.

The decreased demand for air travel may again prompt airlines to cut salaries and reinforce leave without pay for employees. "More airlines will ground more plans and lay off staff," an airline executive said, as per the report.

The data from the Ministry of Civil Aviation showed that air traffic fell for 10 consecutive days in April. Departures on April 20 were down 41 percent to 155,207 compared to March.

With the second wave of COVID-19 deadlier than the first one and daily cases nearly double of what was being reported in the first wave, travel has taken a severe hit.