Pahalgam Attack: DGCA’s guidelines after airspace ban, said- Airline companies should help passengers

New Delhi| Pakistan has banned its airspace after India’s strictness regarding Pahalgam attack. This has affected international passenger planes flying from Delhi. Flight timings have increased. The aviation regulator (DGCA) has issued an advisory to airlines regarding this. DGCA has said that passengers should be fully helped during the flight. Proper communication and catering services should be provided.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory for the safety of passengers regarding extension of flight duration and technical disruptions. Instructions have been given in the advisory regarding pre-flight passenger communication, in-flight catering and rest, medical preparedness and alternative airports, customer service and support readiness, inter-departmental coordination.

DGCA said airline operations have been affected by international airspace closures and overflight restrictions. There has been a change in the route of international and regional flights. The time taken for flights to reach destination from their origin has increased as compared to the stipulated period. This is likely to lead to technical stoppages along the route for operational or fuel requirements.

DGCA said airlines should inform all passengers in advance about changes in routes due to airspace restrictions and travel time. Also, passengers should be informed about technical stoppage at any airport in between. Companies should also tell passengers that the technical ban will be operational only. During this period, passengers will generally remain in the plane.

DGCA said that this information should be given through check-in, at the boarding gate and, where possible, through SMS/e-mail alerts. Along with this, the airline should make arrangements for food for the passengers due to the increase in flight time. Also, companies should provide adequate medical kits and first aid resources.

Regarding customer service, DGCA said that airlines should inform call centers/reservation teams about possible delays and schedule disruptions. The procedure for managing further connections and assistance related to delays should. Pakistan on Thursday barred Indian airlines from using its airspace amid rising tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. At least 26 people were killed in this attack.

Indigo had expressed the need for a long sector for international routes
IndiGo had said on Friday that about 50 international routes it operates would require a long sector. Time schedule adjustments are therefore needed. The company had said that Almaty and Tashkent are outside the operational limits of IndiGo’s current fleet due to similar restrictions and limited diversion options. Flights to Almaty will be cancelled from 27 April to 7 May and flights to Tashkent from 28 April to 7 May.