India's Aviation Ministry Mandates Meals for Delayed Fliers Amid Fog Chaos
Key Points
- 1Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a strict advisory, mandating airlines to provide food and refreshments for delayed flights (typically 2+ hours).
- 2Dense fog at Delhi IGI Airport caused mass disruption, with up to 148 flights cancelled and hundreds delayed in a single day.
- 3Airlines must offer rebooking or full refunds for all flight cancellations, even those due to weather, and provide timely status updates.
- 4The directive reinforces existing DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) to protect air passenger rights during winter travel chaos.
Dense fog has severely impacted air and rail traffic across North India. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has issued a strict advisory to all airlines. This move reinforces passenger facilitation norms during widespread disruptions. The advisory follows days of significant flight delays and cancellations at major hubs.
Regulatory Mandates and Passenger Rights
The MoCA directive instructs airlines to strictly comply with existing regulations. These rules are outlined in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). The DGCA is the principal aviation regulator in India.
Key Details for Delayed Passengers
Airlines must now provide essential services to affected passengers. The advisory specifically addresses the inconvenience caused by low visibility conditions.
- Meals and Refreshments: Airlines must provide food and beverages for flights delayed beyond prescribed limits. For domestic flights, this generally applies to delays of two hours or more.
- Timely Information: Continuous and accurate updates on flight status, rescheduling, and gate changes are mandatory. This information must be shared across all communication channels.
- Rebooking or Refunds: In case of flight cancellations, carriers must offer passengers a choice. This includes an alternate flight at no extra cost or a full ticket refund.
- Denied Boarding: Airlines are prohibited from denying boarding to passengers who check in on time.
- Grievance Redressal: Prompt handling of baggage assistance and passenger complaints is also required.
Impact of Dense Fog Disruptions
The advisory comes as a direct response to the dense fog disruptions that have plagued Northern India's air traffic operations. Delhi IGI Airport, a key hub, saw hundreds of flights affected over several days.
On a single day, as many as 148 flights were cancelled at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI). An additional 150 to 400 flights faced significant delays. Similar conditions were reported on previous days, with 128 flights cancelled on one day and 118 on another. Visibility dropped to as low as 50 meters in some areas. This required the activation of the CAT III landing protocol, which allows compliant aircraft to land in low visibility.
Major carriers like IndiGo and Air India issued their own travel advisories. They urged passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. The prolonged disruption highlights the operational challenges faced by airlines during the winter season.
Industry and Passenger Outlook
The MoCA's strong stance aims to improve the passenger experience during unavoidable weather-related events. While fog is an "extraordinary circumstance" that typically exempts airlines from financial compensation, the provision of food and timely information remains mandatory. The DGCA continues to monitor the strict implementation of these DGCA passenger facilitation norms. The focus is on ensuring passenger comfort and clear communication amidst the winter travel chaos.
For more updates on commercial aviation news, visit the flying.flights website.
Topics
You Might Also Like
Discover more aviation news based on similar topics
Dense fog impacts IndiGo flights; Indian MoCA mandates strict passenger norms.
IndiGo issued a travel advisory confirming that dense fog conditions over Ranchi, Jammu, and Hindon may delay flights.
Why Do Delhi Airport Fog Delays Persist? The CAT IIIB System Explained
Dense winter fog at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, the country's busiest hub, caused over 100 flight cancellations and diversions, triggering cascading delays across India
How Delhi's Dense Fog Will Impact IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet Flights Monday.
IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet issued advisories for Monday flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, as dense fog forces Low Visibility Procedures.
Why 2.6 Lakh Passengers Faced Delays and Cancellations in November: DGCA Data Reveals
DGCA data shows 2.6 lakh passengers were hit by flight delays and cancellations in November, with IndiGo and Air India group accounting for the majority of disruptions.
Smog Crisis Deepens: Why IndiGo Issued Advisories for Delhi, North India Flights
IndiGo issued a travel advisory for flights at Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Ranchi airports as smog pushed the Air Quality Index into the 'Very Poor' category, causing low
Dense fog severely disrupts Delhi-NCR air traffic, causing major flight delays.
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi faced widespread operational disruptions Thursday due to dense fog and critically low visibility.
Never Miss Critical Aviation Updates
Get the top aviation stories delivered to your inbox every morning