New Delhi [India]: Following Pakistan’s decision to close its airspace for Indian carriers, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a comprehensive set of advisory guidelines for airline operators to ensure smooth handling of passengers and maintain operational transparency.
According to the advisory accessed, rerouted international and regional flights are now experiencing increased block times, with some requiring technical halts for operational or fuel needs. The DGCA has directed airlines to proactively communicate such changes to passengers at multiple touchpoints including check-in counters, boarding gates, SMS, and email alerts.
Key Guidelines Issued:
- Pre-Flight Communication: Airlines must inform passengers about revised routes, expected travel duration, and the potential for technical halts. These stops should be explained as operational in nature, with passengers typically remaining onboard.
- Inflight Catering Adjustments: Based on longer flight durations, catering must be updated to include adequate meals, beverages, hydration, and dry snacks. Special meal requests must be honored per the manifest.
- Medical Preparedness: Airlines are to ensure sufficient first-aid kits onboard and confirm that alternate/technical stop airports have access to emergency medical services and ambulances. Cabin crew should also be briefed to manage passenger fatigue or medical incidents during extended flights.
- Customer Support Readiness: Airlines must train call centre and reservation teams to handle delays and disruptions, assist with missed connections, and prepare for compensatory measures if delays cross designated thresholds.
- Operational Coordination: DGCA emphasized smooth intra-departmental coordination between flight dispatch, commercial teams, inflight service, airport operations, and medical service vendors at designated alternate airports.
These measures are intended to minimize passenger inconvenience and maintain safety and transparency during a period of geopolitical tension and restricted airspace routes.