Representational Picture/PTI
Delay and last-minute cancellation of lots of of flights because of fog and poor visibility has left a number of vacationers agitated. To mitigate passengers’ inconvinence due to fog induced disruptions to home and worldwide flight operations, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Tuesday introduced further measures together with establishing of ‘War Rooms’ by airports and airline operators on the six Metro Airports.
These ‘War Rooms’ will assist deal with any points with regard to passenger inconvenience with immediacy, the minister mentioned.
The six metro airports are Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai.
Associated Articles
Scindia additional mentioned the Civil Aviation Ministry has sought “incidence” studies from all six metro airports “thrice daily” from all of the airways.
The airways have been requested to implement the Directorate Common of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directives and SOPs.
As for safety, ample CISF manpower availability will likely be ensured round the clock, the minister mentioned.
Scindia additional knowledgeable that RWY 29L on the Delhi airport has been made CAT III operational on Tuesday and operationalisation of RWY 10/28 as CAT III at Delhi Airport after re-carpeting may also be undertaken.
In view of the fog-induced disruptions, Customary Working Procedures (SOPs) on mitigating passenger inconvenience have been issued yesterday to all of the airways.
1. Along with these SOPs, we have now sought incidence reporting thrice day by day for all of the 6 metro airports.
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) January 16, 2024
The minister requested all vacationers to “bear with us during this difficult period”. “All stakeholders are trying their best to minimise passenger inconvenience. Incidences of unruly behaviour amidst this are unacceptable, and will be dealt with strongly in line with the existing legal provisions. I would like to assure everyone that all stakeholders are working round the clock to minimise the fog-related impact,” he mentioned.
Operations on the Delhi airport have been considerably impacted by dense fog on Sunday leading to diversion, cancellation, and delay of many flights.
On Monday, the DGCA issued SOPs, instructing all scheduled airways to adjust to it concerning flight delays and cancellations.
As per the SOPs, airways have been mandated to launch correct real-time data concerning delays of their flights on the respective web site of the airline and supply advance data to affected passengers by SMS, WhatsApp and e mail.
The SOP additionally said there needs to be show of up to date data concerning flight delays for passengers ready at airports.
“There should be appropriate sensitisation of the airline staff at the airports to suitably communicate with and continuously inform the passengers about flight delays,” the SOP added
The SOP additionally included that in view of the prevalent fog situation and adversarial climate, airways might cancel, sufficiently prematurely, such flights which might be anticipated to be delayed or consequentially delayed on account of such circumstances past a interval of three hours with a view to obviate congestion on the airport and mitigate passenger inconvenience.
With inputs from businesses