With Mumbai gradually easing travel restrictions, a new survey by the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has shown that passengers arriving at the airport have doubled in August as compared to July. According to the survey, more than 237,200 passengers arrived here since the commencement of Unlock 3.0 in August. In contrast, during Unlock 3.0, other states like Delhi, Varanasi, and Hyderabad noted arrivals increase by 51,200, 19,700, and 16,100 passengers, respectively.
The survey, released on September 9, also showed a marginal increase in passengers flying out of the city. During the same period, around 170,600 passengers travelled out. The survey shows an increase in numbers compared to Unlock 2.0 in July when Mumbai had registered over 108,500 flyers arriving and around 162,800 departing from the airport. The airport authorities believe the passenger arrivals at the airport is on a steady growth.
They added that &ldquosince the resumption of commercial domestic flight operations, CSMIA has catered to a total of 47 sectors in the country, operated by 10 airlines.&rdquo
Meanwhile, following the new guidelines issued by the state government, Mumbai airport will now start testing international passengers for COVID-19 upon arrival, in case they do not carry a COVID negative certificate from a test done within 96 hours of travelling. Reportedly, international passengers taking connecting flights from Mumbai will be put through PCR tests at the airport. As per the new guidelines, only the passengers with a negative test report will be allowed to continue to the connecting flights, and those found positive will be sent for institutional quarantine.