DGCA Issues SOP: In view of the delay in flights of various airlines due to bad weather and the inconvenience caused to the passengers, aviation regulatory body DGCA on Monday (January 15) came up with several Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
DGCA stressed on the need for airlines to publish accurate real-time information regarding flight delays and to sensitize airport staff to appropriately communicate with passengers amid fog-related disruptions at airports. .
However, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that all stakeholders are working round the clock to minimize the inconvenience. At the same time, Indigo Airline recently issued a statement on the issue of assault with a pilot in one of its flights.
What did Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia say?
Earlier in the day on Monday (January 15), Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said all stakeholders are working round the clock to minimize fog-related impacts as well as inconvenience to passengers. He had also said that the DGCA would come up with SOPs to ensure ‘better communication and convenience for passengers to minimize inconvenience in the wake of flight cancellations and delays due to adverse weather’.
‘Airline employees should be sensitive’
According to a release, airline staff at airports should be sensitive to communicate appropriately and constantly guide and inform passengers about flight delays. This step has come at a time when an Indigo pilot who was announcing flight delay at Delhi airport was attacked by a passenger on Sunday (January 14). The passenger was arrested after the incident.
What did DGCA say?
DGCA said, “In view of the prevailing fog and adverse weather conditions, in order to decongest the airport and minimize inconvenience to passengers, airlines may cancel such flights well in advance in case of such conditions (bad weather).” There is a possibility of delay of more than three hours due to this.”
An official release said that the SOP has been issued due to the disruption caused by fog and adverse weather conditions at various airports, including Delhi Airport, leading to delays, cancellation of tickets and inconvenience to passengers.
The regulator has ‘Civil Aviation Requirements’ (CAR) relating to ‘facilities to be provided by airlines to passengers in case of denial of boarding, cancellation of flight and flight delay’. CAR contains minimum airworthiness and operational requirements. According to the release, airlines are also required to publish reference to CAR on flight tickets. CAR was issued to ensure proper protection for air passengers in case of flight disruption.
What was the incident of attack on the pilot?
According to media reports, Indigo flight from Delhi to Goa on Sunday (January 14) The A20N was delayed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for more than 10 hours. When the pilot was announcing the delay in the flight, a passenger assaulted him. The video of this incident is also going viral.
According to a TOI report, the video maker Co-passenger Russian-Indian actress Evgenia Belskaia has claimed that the pilot was blaming passengers for asking questions instead of being understanding and supportive. “Of course, assaulting the pilot is 100 per cent wrong, I would not agree with it, but why was he (the pilot) blaming the passengers, he should understand them and support them,” Belskiya said in a post on her Instagram handle. Had to do.”
Indigo issued this statement on the incident of assault with the pilot
IndiGo issued a statement on Monday (January 15) on the incident of assault with a pilot on a flight in Delhi. Indigo said on social media platformOn 14 January 2024 Announcement of delay in flight 6E 2175 A customer attacked the first officer. As per protocol, the customer was declared uncontrolled and handed over to local law enforcement agencies.
“This incident is being referred to an independent internal committee for appropriate action as per regulatory guidelines and to include the customer on the no-fly list,” the statement said. The safety and security of our customers and crew is of paramount importance and we maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards any such unacceptable behaviour.
(with language input)
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