News Analysis India

Tag: DGCA

  • DGCA lifts ban on Boeing 737 Max aircraft after two-and-half years

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: India’s aviation regulator DGCA on Thursday lifted the ban on Boeing 737 Max planes’ commercial flight operations after almost two-and-half years.

    On March 13, 2019, all Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded in India by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max plane on March 10 near Addis Ababa which had left 157 people, including four Indians, dead.

    Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has been modifying the 737 Max plane since March 2019 so that various countries’ regulators, including the DGCA, permit its passenger flight operations again.

    In its order dated August 26, 2021, the DGCA stated that the operation of Boeing 737 Max planes are permitted “only upon satisfaction of applicable requirements for return to service”.

    A senior DGCA official confirmed that the ban on 737 Max planes’ commercial flight operations has been lifted.

    Currently, only SpiceJet airline in India has Boeing 737 Max aircraft in its fleet. No other airline in India uses Max plane.

    On March 13, 2019, SpiceJet had to ground 12 Max planes, forcing it to cancel a significant number of flights on that day as well as on the next day.

    Jet Airways also had five Max planes in its fleet but they were already grounded as on March 13, 2019 due to non-payment of dues to the lessors.

    A month later, the full-service carrier had shut down its operations due to lack of funds.

    In March 2019 itself, several countries grounded 737 Max planes. The March 10, 2019 accident near Addis Ababa was the second in a period of five months.

    In October 2018, a 737 Max plane operated by Lion Air had crashed in Indonesia, killing 180 people.

  • ‘No proven basis’: Centre on claims of Delhi-London flight fares touching Rs 4 lakh mark

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: An economy-class ticket on Delhi-London flight has been available for between Rs 1.03 lakh and Rs 1.47 lakh during August, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Sunday.

    “There are media reports claiming India-UK one-way economy class fares have touched Rs 4 lakh. These reports have no proven basis. The veracity of Shri Sanjeev Gupta’s claim has been thoroughly checked by DGCA,” the ministry said on Twitter.

    “The fares offered on the Delhi-London sector (Economy class) range from Rs 1.03-1.21 lakhs for Indian carriers and Rs 1.28-1.47 lakhs for UK carriers for travel during August 2021,” it added.

    On Saturday, Sanjeev Gupta, Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat, Union Home Ministry, had complained on Twitter that an economy-class ticket on British Airways’s Delhi-London flight for August 26 was priced Rs 3.95 lakh.

    He added that economy-class ticket on Delhi-London flights of Vistara and Air India for August 26 was also priced between Rs 1.2 lakh and Rs 2.3 lakh amid college admission time in the UK.

    Gupta stated he has “alerted” Union Civil Aviation Secretary P S Kharola about this matter.

    After Gupta’s Twitter post, the Directorate General of Civl Aviation (DGCA) asked the airlines that operate India-UK flights currently to submit details about their fares.

    While there have been lower and upper limits on all domestic airfares in India since May 25 last year, no such limits have been imposed on international airfares.

    Vistara, which currently operates flights on Delhi-London as wells Mumbai-London route, said on Sunday: “Pricing is always a function of supply and demand.”

    “There are only 15 flights a week allowed currently on India-UK route for Indian carriers and when there is relaxation and more capacity allowed, it will automatically bring down prices.”

    Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23 last year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    However, limited special international passenger flights have been operating since July 2020 under the air bubble arrangements formed with 28 countries, including the UK.

  • Suspension of scheduled international passenger flights extended till August 31

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The coronavirus-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till August 31, aviation regulator DGCA said on Friday. “However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation added.

    Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020 and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with selected countries since July 2020.

    India has formed air bubble pacts with around 24 countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France. Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.

    The DGCA circular also said that the suspension does not affect the operation of international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by it.

  • Two consultants of Aviation Ministry, two officials of DGCA die due to COVID

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Two consultants of the Civil Aviation Ministry and two officials of aviation regulator DGCA have died due to COVID-19 till date, government officials stated on Sunday. The two consultants — who were retired government servants and were engaged by the ministry on contract basis — died during the first wave of COVID-19 during 2020, the officials mentioned.

    The two officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) died during the second wave of COVID-19 in 2021, they told PTI. The two deceased officials of DGCA held the position of Director and Assistant Director respectively, the officials mentioned.

    India was badly hit by the second wave of the coronavirus infection during April and May this year. The government officials said a total of 44 employees of the Civil Aviation Ministry tested positive for COVID-19 between January and May this year.

    In comparison, only 26 employees of the ministry had tested positive for COVID-19 during the entire 2020, they mentioned. Officials said the medical expenses of all such employees were reimbursed as per the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and Central Services (Medical Attendance) rules.

    As per the Union Health Ministry’s data on Sunday, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,08,37,222, while the active cases declined to 4,54,118.

  • Suspension of scheduled international passenger flights extended till July 31

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The coronavirus-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till July 31, aviation regulator DGCA said on Wednesday. “However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) added.

    Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020 and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with selected countries since July 2020.

    India has formed air bubble pacts with around 24 countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France. Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.

    The DGCA circular also said that the suspension does not affect the operation of international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by it.

  • Suspension of scheduled international passenger flights extended till June 30 due to Covid-19

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The coronavirus-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till June 30, aviation regulator DGCA said on Friday.

    “However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation added.

    Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    pic.twitter.com/IueesZFoiV
    — DGCA (@DGCAIndia) May 28, 2021

    But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020, and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with select countries since July 2020.

    India has formed air bubble pacts with around 27 countries including the US, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France.

    Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.

    The DGCA’s Friday circular also said that the suspension does not affect international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by it.

    The decision to extend the suspension on scheduled international passenger flights comes as India battles a second wave of coronavirus, even though daily cases have seen a steady decline over the past several days.

  • 57.25 lakh domestic air passengers in April, 26.8 per cent lower than March: DGCA

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Around 57.25 lakh domestic passengers travelled by air in April, which is 26.8 per cent lower than 78.22 lakh who travelled in March, Indian aviation regulator DGCA said on Tuesday.

    According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), 78.27 lakh people travelled by air within the country in February.

    The drop in domestic air traffic in April is due to the second wave of the pandemic that has badly hit India and its aviation sector.

    While IndiGo carried 30.83 lakh passengers in April, a 53.9 per cent share of the total domestic market, SpiceJet flew 7.05 lakh passengers, which is 12.3 per cent share of the market, according to data shared by the DGCA.

    Air India, GoAir, Vistara and AirAsia India carried 6.85 lakh, 5.47 lakh, 3.11 lakh and 3.55 lakh passengers, respectively in April, it showed.

    The occupancy rate or load factor of the six major Indian airlines was between 52 per cent and 70.8 per cent in April, it stated.

    “The passenger load factor in the month of April 2021 has shown decreasing trend compared to previous month due to end of vacation period,” the DGCA said.

    The occupancy rate at SpiceJet was 70.8 per cent in April, the regulator noted.

    The occupancy rates for IndiGo, Vistara, GoAir, Air India and AirAsia India were 58.7 per cent, 54.6 per cent, 65.7 per cent, 52 per cent and 64 per cent, respectively, according to the DGCA.

    India resumed domestic passenger flights on May 25 last year after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Indian airlines are allowed to operate a maximum of 80 per cent of their pre-pandemic domestic flights.

    The DGCA data mentioned that in April, GoAir had the best on-time performance of 98.1 per cent at four metro airports — Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

    IndiGo and Vistara were at number two and three positions at these four airports in April with 97.4 per cent and 95.3 per cent on-time performance, respectively, the regulator said.

    The aviation sector has been significantly impacted due to the travel restrictions imposed in India and other countries in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

    All airlines in India have taken cost-cutting measures such as pay cuts, leaves without pay and layoffs in order to tide over the crisis.

  • Strictly abide by DGCA order on breath analyser tests of pilots, cabin crew: HC to airlines

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has directed all airlines in India to “strictly abide” by the percentage of breath analyser (BA) testing mentioned in the April 27 order of aviation regulator DGCA and that no carrier should go beyond it for the safety of their pilots and cabin crew in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The high court issued the direction after it was informed by the DGCA that some airlines were testing more pilots and cabin crew than the 10 per cent limit set by the regulator.

    Justice Prathiba M Singh also said that the court will not substitute its view with that of the medical committee, created by DGMS (Air) to examine whether BA tests could be substituted by blood tests to detect alcohol levels, which has said that blood alcohol testing was not feasible.

    The committee also said it was satisfied by the UV sanitation method used by DGCA for the BA test machines.

    While declining to interfere with the committee’s findings, the court, however, called for an additional report from it on whether the BA test can be conducted in an open area so that spread of COVID-19 through the suspended particles or aerosols in a confined room can be avoided.

    This query was posed by the court as the ATC Guild had expressed an apprehension that since the BA test is conducted in an enclosed space and the air blown into the equipment is released out from the other end of the machine, the droplets or aerosols of COVID may remain suspended in the air and could infect others who enter that room.

    The court also asked the DGMS (Air) whether it approves of the percentages for BA test given in the April 27 order of the DGCA or should it be random for all categories of employees – Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs), pilots and cabin crew.

    The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had on April 27 issued an order stating therein that 10 per cent of flight crew and cabin crew members involved in domestic operations shall be subjected to random preflight BA test.

    DGCA had also told the court that undertakings are required to be furnished by flight and cabin crew that they have not consumed any alcohol or psychotropic substance in the 12 hours prior to a flight.

    The court, in its order of May 4, also asked the committee “whether the cabin crew, ATCs and other personnel who have to undergo the BA test could be first subjected to a rapid antigen test and thereafter be made to undergo the BAT and whether the percentages need to be changed and if so, to what extent.”

    “Let a further report be submitted by the DGMS (Air) at least one day before the next date of hearing on May 11. In the meantime, the percentage of testing and other directions as contained in the order dated April 27 shall be adhered to by the airlines.”

    “It is again emphasised that all staff of the airlines, including ATCs, cabin crew and the pilots, would be bound to give the undertakings and the declarations, in respect of having not consumed alcohol in terms of the applicable regulations, failing which, they could be re-rostered and strict action would be liable to be taken against them,” the court said.

    The order came on the separate pleas by the ATC Guild and Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) opposing the conduct of BA tests during the prevailing pandemic.

    In March last year, the high court issued an interim order suspending BA tests through the tube process for ATCs.

    Subsequently, in September 2020 it had modified the interim order and allowed BA tests through the tube process on the basis of the recommendations by a medical board.

    The board had recommended that one machine would be used per person and not again for the next 12 hours.

    The court, while allowing the BA tests, had said that DGCA would be bound by the June 16, 2020 recommendations of the medical board.

    The interim order of March 23, 2020 was modified on an application moved by DGCA.

    The DGCA’s application was filed in the petition by the Air Traffic Controllers’ Guild seeking a direction to DGCA and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to temporarily suspend the BA tests through the tube process to prevent further spread of the virus.

  • Cap on domestic flight fares to continue

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: With exponential rise in Covid-19 cases in the country, aviation regulator DGCA has extended the capping on domestic flight fares till May 31. Moreover, the government has also extended the restriction on domestic flight operations which is currently at 80 per cent of the capacity. 

    The latest statement from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said that the new move has been made in view of the prevailing Covid-19 situation. Earlier, the aviation regulator had approved 18,843 flights per week from 108 airports for the summer schedule, which begins on last Sunday of March and ends on last Sunday of October. 

    Last month the DGCA in a circular said that suspension of international flights has been further extended till April 30. However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on case-to-case basis. Fare caps were put in place after domestic operations were allowed to resume in May last year following of grounding of operations for two months.

  • Pilots association in HC seeks suspension of breath analyser test during COVID-19

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: An association representing pilots of Air India on Monday urged the Delhi High Court to direct civil aviation regulator DGCA to suspend breath analyser tests due to the surge in the COVID-19 pandemic.

    When the matter came up for hearing before Justice Prathiba M Singh, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed the court that there was a medical board recommendation of June last year permitting breath analyser tests (BAT).

    The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), however, told the court that the medical board recommendation was given in respect of BAT of air traffic controllers (ATCs).

    The court asked DGCA to place before it the medical board’s recommendation and listed the matter for hearing on April 27.

    ICPA has sought suspension of BATs during the ongoing pandemic which has seen a surge in infections.

    In March last year, the high court issued an interim order suspending BATs through the tube process for ATCs.

    Subsequently, in September 2020 it had modified the interim order and allowed BATs through the tube process on the basis of the recommendations by the medical board.

    The board has recommended that one machine would be used per person and not again for the next 12 hours.

    The court, while allowing the BATs, had said that DGCA would be bound by the June 16, 2020 recommendations of the medical board.

    The interim order of March 23, 2020 was modified on an application moved by DGCA.

    The DGCA’s application was filed in the petition filed by the Air Traffic Controllers’ Guild (India) seeking a direction to DGCA and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to temporarily suspend the BAT through the tube process to prevent further spread of the virus.