The Election Commission’s ban on physical rallies in five poll-bound States since January 8 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic wave has hit the business of charter flight operators.
Just 10-15% of the 350-400 flight hours per month are election-related travel at this stage, the operators said.
“Election travel has not picked up. It had started to pick up initially, around mid-December, but then the EC announced the ban on rallies so that completely stopped most of the (election-related) travel,” said Rajan Mehra, CEO, Club One Air. Election travel is very limited, added Mr Mehra, former India head of Qatar Airways.
Kanika Tekriwal, CEO and Founder, JetSetGo Aviation, said that as there is a ban on rallies due to pandemics, the company has seen only 70% inquiries for election-related travel this year as compared to last year.
Well explained