The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Thursday (January 18) issued instructions to airlines, emphasising that they should refrain from parking their aircraft in remote bays and prohibit passenger disembarkation on the apron in case of extended flight delays.
This directive follows the recent incident at Mumbai airport where passengers of a diverted Goa-Delhi IndiGo flight experienced delays and had to endure dining on the tarmac. In response, regulatory bodies, including BCAS and DGCA, imposed penalties on IndiGo and Mumbai airport operator MIAL.
Latest guidelines by MoCA
In light of these events, officials clarified on Thursday that airlines are mandated to ensure that during flight diversions and prolonged delays, aircraft should be parked on contact stands. This arrangement facilitates the smooth transfer of passengers to the terminal building for disembarkation if necessary.
The ministry underscored that, under no circumstances, should aircraft be parked in remote bays, and passengers should not be allowed to disembark on the apron in case of flight delays or diversions.
Scindia expresses dissatisfaction
Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed his dissatisfaction with incidents like passengers dining on the tarmac, deeming them unacceptable. Penalties have been imposed to underscore the government’s commitment to prioritising the safety and security of citizens.
To alleviate passenger inconvenience caused by fog-related flight disruptions, various measures have been implemented, including the establishment of war rooms to address issues promptly.
Emergency control rooms at major airports
All airlines have been instructed to activate emergency control rooms (war rooms) at all six metro airports, manned by top managers with the authority to make swift decisions on various aspects, including addressing passenger complaints. The ministry monitors the situations and complaints handled in these emergency control rooms on a daily basis, while DGCA and the ministry continuously monitor flight delays, cancellations, and diversions three times a day at all six metro airports.
Earlier in the week, DGCA directed airlines to sensitise their airport staff to effectively communicate and inform passengers about flight delays. Airlines were also advised to proactively cancel flights expected to be delayed beyond three hours due to unforeseen conditions to prevent airport congestion and mitigate passenger inconvenience.
