Infrastructure
DGCA Sets Guidelines For Airlines To Improve Communication During Weather-Induced Flight Delays
Representative Image (Ramesh Pathania/Mint via Getty Images)
Amid excessive flight delays due to foggy weather, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday (15 January) issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) to airlines regarding flight cancellations due to excessive delays during adverse weather conditions.
According to the aviation regulator, “Facilities are to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights.”
The airlines are also required to publish the reference of the civil aviation requirement (CAR) on the flight tickets.
DGCA has issued the CAR to ensure appropriate protection for air travelers in case of flight disruptions and, in particular, denied boardings, flight cancellations, and delays without due notice to the passengers booked on the flights.
It is, accordingly, obligatory on the part of all airlines to mandatorily adhere to the provisions of the above CAR, DGCA maintains.
However, in case of force majeure events which are extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the airline, the provisions of the above CAR are not applicable.
Given the fog-induced disruptions and adverse weather conditions at various airports including Delhi Airport causing delays, cancellations and inconvenience to passengers, the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are mandated in the public interest.
According to the SOP, airlines shall be required to publish accurate real-time information regarding delays of their flights, which shall be published on the respective website of the airline and also through advance information to affected passengers by SMS/WhatsApp and email.
Airlines are required to display updated information regarding flight delays to passengers waiting at the airports.
The airport airline staff will undergo appropriate sensitisation to suitably communicate with and continuously guide and inform the passengers about flight delays.
Given the prevalent fog season and adverse weather conditions, airlines may cancel, sufficiently in advance, such flights that are anticipated to be delayed or consequentially delayed on account of such conditions beyond a period of 3 hours to prevent congestion at the airport and mitigate passenger inconvenience.
The DGCA maintains that all airlines shall mandatorily adhere to the above SOP with immediate effect.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
