Flights from metros to smaller cities in big demand as people rush to native places

Bookings for flights connecting metros are starting to recover after being overshadowed initially by flights connecting the metros to smaller cities when India lifted a two-month ban on domestic air travel, according to travel agents.

Flights between metro and non-metro cities saw a rush in bookings when the government allowed airlines to resume domestic flights in a staggered manner from 25 May. This was because the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the major cities forced most people to rush back to their native places that were relatively less affected.

According to three online travel firms, most of the bookings made initially were from people stranded in various cities, often their workplaces, following the nationwide lockdown imposed on 25 March to contain the pandemic.