This archive report was first published on 20 May 2020.
India's aviation minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced on Twitter that domestic air travel will resume on May 25, two months after it was halted to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The government had suspended all domestic flights on March 25, just days after suspending international flights, which ferried 144 million passengers and cargo across the country last year.
Some interstate Indian trains resumed operations a week ago, but there was no indication when international travel would resume.
India reported its biggest daily jump in coronavirus infections on the same day, with 5,611 new cases recorded in 24 hours, taking the total to 106,750, with financial capital Mumbai the worst-hit city.
More than 3,300 people have died, with unofficial estimates suggesting the number could be higher, and Mumbai accounts for almost a quarter of fatalities.
Other major cities, including New Delhi and Ahmedabad, are also badly affected, with hospital bed shortages a major concern.
Mumbai authorities are looking to requisition thousands of private hospital beds, with state-run care facilities overwhelmed in the city of 20 million people.
Experts predict the epidemic will worsen in major cities over the next month, with infections expected to peak in June or July.
