Air passengers can now move around in the event of a flight delay due to fog. Earlier passengers were kept seated on board so that the plane could start taxiing as soon as it got permission to do so, for takeoff when the fog lifted. The new rule allows passengers to disembark the aircraft and move to the departure terminal if their flight gets delayed due to bad weather.
Besides, if the replacement flight arrives later than three hours after the scheduled arrival time, passengers may also be able to claim compensation.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said, "Airlines have been instructed to "proactively communicate with passengers about potential delays/ cancellations due to visibility issues and to ensure that correct passenger contact information is recorded during ticket booking. The flight has to be cancelled if the delay is exceeding three hours".
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Wednesday conducted a high-level meeting to assess the preparedness of airlines, Delhi airport and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), considering the premature arrival of fog and smog in the National Capital Region. The meeting, officials said, was aimed at ensuring uninterrupted flight operations and better passenger comfort. The meeting was attended by Vumlunmang Vualnam, civil aviation secretary and other senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi operator and airline officials.
"The preparations for managing visibility-related challenges this winter are moving in the right direction with good progress made in resolving the bottlenecks," the civil aviation ministry said in a release. According to the release, airlines have confirmed that they will adhere to the DGCA guidelines with respect to deploying CAT II/III compliant aircraft and pilots for Delhi and other airports that could be impacted by fog. Out of the four runways at the Delhi airport, which is also the country's busiest airport, three have CAT III ILS (Instrument Landing System) that will permit flight operations at low visibility levels.
The CAT II/III compliance will allow pilots to operate aircraft at low visibility conditions. Proper facilitation of passengers is the priority during times of flight delays and cancellations. Airlines should ensure that all check-in counters at airports are fully staffed to minimise passenger inconvenience, the minister said at the meeting.
Delhi airport operator DIAL (Delhi International Airport Ltd) has been advised to install LED screens at prominent locations for providing real-time updates on visibility conditions to passengers. Besides, it has been asked to ensure increased availability of 'Follow Me' vehicles to guide aircraft during low visibility conditions.
While emphasising on having a passenger-centric approach, Naidu mentioned the importance of real-time coordination between Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs), airlines, ground handlers and airport operators to ensure seamless operations.
