DGCA Issues SOPs for Airlines Amid Flight Delays and Cancellations Due to Fog: Emphasizes ‘Share Real-Time Updates

DGCA Issues SOPs to Address Flight Delays and Cancellations Amid Fog in Delhi

Amidst mounting criticism over the persistent flight delays and cancellations at the Delhi airport due to prevailing foggy conditions, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken decisive action by issuing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for airlines. The move aims to enhance communication with passengers and address their concerns during adverse weather conditions.

The directive, issued on Monday, underscores the need for airlines to provide precise real-time updates on flight delays attributed to fog. The DGCA stressed that this information should be readily available on the airline’s website and communicated to passengers through various channels, including SMS, WhatsApp, and email.

Effective communication is identified as a crucial aspect, and the DGCA has urged airlines to conduct training sessions for their staff at airports. The goal is to ensure that airline personnel can effectively communicate with passengers, keeping them informed about any ongoing flight delays and the reasons behind them.

“In view of the prevalent fog season and adverse weather conditions, airlines may cancel, sufficiently in advance, such flights that are anticipated to be delayed or consequentially delayed on account of such conditions beyond a period of 3 hours with a view to obviate congestion at the airport and mitigate passenger inconvenience,” stated the DGCA in its official statement.

The DGCA also highlighted the implementation of the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) to provide adequate safeguards for air travelers in the event of flight disruptions. This includes situations such as denied boardings, flight cancellations, and delays occurring without proper notice to passengers. The regulator emphasized that airlines are required to publish the reference of the CAR on flight tickets.

The issuance of these SOPs comes at a time when passengers, frustrated with significant flight delays, took to social media to voice their concerns and share their experiences.

Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia acknowledged the challenges faced by passengers and assured that steps are being taken to address the situation promptly. He emphasized that all stakeholders are working tirelessly to minimize the impact of fog-related disruptions on flight schedules.

“Yesterday, Delhi witnessed unprecedented fog wherein visibility fluctuated for several hours, and at times, dropped to zero between 5 AM to 9 AM. The authorities, therefore, were compelled to enforce a shut-down of operations for some time even on CAT III runways (CAT III runways cannot handle Zero-Visibility operations),” explained the minister in a social media post.

“The decision was taken keeping passenger safety in mind, which remains the foremost priority for all in the aviation ecosystem,” Scindia added.

With these SOPs in place, the DGCA aims to enhance transparency, reduce passenger inconvenience, and streamline operations during challenging weather conditions, ensuring a safer and more efficient travel experience for air travelers.