Aviation Minister Scindia Implements War Rooms for Airport Flight Delays
Mr. Scindia posted on X, detailing new SOPs for airlines to “reduce passenger inconvenience.”
Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia unveiled a six-point plan in New Delhi on Tuesday to address fog-related disruptions affecting both domestic and international flights. The plan aims to tackle delays and cancellations, with Mr. Scindia sharing new SOPs on X to alleviate passenger inconvenience.
Apart from these, the Union Minister mentioned receiving daily reports from all six metro airports, along with updates on the enforcement of directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
“Airports and airlines will establish ‘war rooms’ across all six metros to promptly address passenger inconvenience. Adequate round-the-clock CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) staffing will be guaranteed,” he stated.
Mr. Scindia additionally mentioned the activation of CAT III operations for Runway 29L at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, enabling take-offs and departures in dense fog conditions.
Mr. Scindia stated that Runway 10/28, equipped with CAT III capabilities, will soon be operational. This oldest runway at the airport was closed for maintenance last year following the G20 Summit in Delhi.
On Monday, Mr. Scindia addressed X in response to passenger frustration, as IndiGo and other airlines, including the national carrier Air India, grappled with inadequate communication and schedule delays caused by adverse weather conditions.
Referring to the “unprecedented fog” in Delhi on Sunday, where visibility “fell to zero between 5 am to 9 am,” the Aviation Minister urged patience as his ministry works to address the issues.
He emphasized that the choice to halt flight operations at Delhi airport—resulting in over 100 cancellations or delays on Sunday and more than 150 on Monday—was made with “passenger safety in mind.”
During that time, he had mentioned that SOPs, with the goal of improving communication and passenger assistance, would soon be provided to all airlines. He earnestly requested understanding during this challenging period.
Mr. Scindia strongly criticized any instances of violence aboard aircraft, deeming them “unacceptable.” He was specifically addressing a disturbing incident on a Delhi-Goa IndiGo flight, where a passenger assaulted the captain due to a delay exceeding 10 hours. The passenger, Sahil Kataria, has been arrested and released on bail.
IndiGo has said it is considering including Mr Kataria in the ‘no-fly list’.
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