With Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines following the Pahalgam terror attack, international flights from India, especially from northern cities like Delhi, are experiencing longer travel times. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory directing airlines to boost passenger handling and communication efforts during the disturbance.
The aviation regulator highlighted the need to provide clear updates to passengers, provide stronger medical preparedness, revise in-flight catering given increased block time, and potential technical stoppages during the journey.
DGCA’s five crucial instructions for airlines
The DGCA has underlined five critical focus areas for airlines. These are-in-flight catering and comfort, pre-flight communication, medical support readiness, intra-departmental coordination and customer service enhancements.
Carriers have been directed to proactively inform passengers about revised travel time, also to make them aware of possible mid-route technical stops. They have also been asked to explain to flyers that such stops are operational and passengers would generally stay onboard. Airlines are expected to convey these changes at check-in counters, boarding gates and even through emails and SMS alerts.
Adjustments should be made for in-flight services. According to the advisory, it is mandatory that catering provisions are updated as per the extended block time. Airlines should ensure a maximum number of foods and beverages are available for the full duration of the flight, including technical stoppages.
Moreover, airlines must ensure that adequate medical kits and first aid resources are available onboard. For handling any potential health-related emergencies arising from the extended flight durations should need to be taken care of.
Highlighting the operational risks, DGCA pointed out that rerouted flights are significantly longer. There may be a possibility of missed onward connections and broader schedule disruptions.
Airlines have been advised to train call centres and reservation teams to help passengers in case of delays. Meanwhile, IndiGo announced that around 50 of its international routes will face longer flying times which will lead to minor changes in schedule. The airline has also suspended operations to Almaty and Tashkent, as flights have been cancelled from April 27 and April 28 and until May 7.
(With inputs from PTI)