Aviation Minister urges airlines to prioritise passenger communication
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu convened a review meeting to assess fog preparedness for the upcoming winter season and directed airlines to enhance passenger communication regarding flight delays. He also emphasised the need to fully staff check-in counters and adhere to guidelines allowing passengers to exit aircraft through departure gates during extended delays. "The preparations for managing visibility-related challenges this winter are progressing well, with significant bottlenecks addressed," stated the Civil Aviation Ministry. The meeting included Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam, officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi airport operator DIAL, and airline representatives. Airlines have been instructed to promptly inform passengers about delays or cancellations due to low visibility and ensure accurate passenger contact details are recorded during ticket booking. If a delay exceeds three hours, flights must be cancelled, as per DGCA regulations. Recent bad weather in Delhi resulted in at least 15 flight diversions and over 100 delays. To address such challenges, airlines confirmed compliance with DGCA's guidelines, deploying CAT II/III compliant aircraft and pilots for low-visibility operations at Delhi and other fog-prone airports. Delhi Airport, India’s busiest has three runways equipped with CAT III Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) for operations in low-visibility conditions. Additional measures, including the deployment of "Follow Me" vehicles to guide aircraft and installation of LED screens displaying real-time visibility updates, have been recommended for enhanced passenger convenience. The BCAS also issued a circular to ensure smooth re-entry of passengers stranded on aircraft due to weather or technical delays, with drills being conducted to streamline the process. Minister Naidu stressed the importance of a passenger-centric approach, urging real-time coordination among airlines, ground handlers, airport operators, and Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) to minimise disruptions and ensure seamless operations during the fog season. (ET)
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