The Ministry of Civil Aviation has said that Indian airlines can now operate maximum 60 percent of their pre-COVID domestic passenger flights till February 24 next year.

The ministry had resumed domestic passenger services from May 25 after a gap of two months due to the COVID-19 lockdown. However, airlines were not allowed to operate more than 33 percent of their pre-COVID domestic flights.

Another order on June 26 had put a 45 percent limit on the number of domestic flights.

Now the ministry has issued a new order stating that, &ldquo45 percent capacity may be read as 60 percent capacity&rdquo.

The ministry has also clarified that the order &ldquoshall remain in force until 2359 hrs on February 24, 2021 or until further orders&rdquo due to the &ldquoprevailing situation of COVID-19&rdquo.

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