Tag: DGCA

  • 78.22 lakh domestic air passengers in March, slightly lower than February: DGCA

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Around 78.22 lakh domestic passengers travelled by air in March, which is slightly lower than 78.27 lakh who travelled in February, Indian aviation regulator DGCA said on Tuesday.

    According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), 77.34 lakh people travelled by air within the country in January. While IndiGo carried 41.85 lakh passengers in March, a 54 per cent share of the total domestic market, SpiceJet flew 10.03 lakh passengers, which is 12.8 per cent share of the market, according to data shared by the DGCA.

    It showed that Air India, GoAir, Vistara and AirAsia India carried 9.17 lakh, 6.12 lakh, 5 lakh and 5.42 lakh passengers respectively in March. The occupancy rate or load factor of the six major Indian airlines was between 64.5 per cent and 76.5 per cent in March, it stated.

    “The passenger load factor in the month of March 2021 has shown increasing trend compared to previous month primarily due to beginning of tourist season,” the DGCA said. The regulator noted that the occupancy rate at SpiceJet was 76.5 per cent in March.

    According to the DGCA the occupancy rates for IndiGo, Vistara, GoAir, Air India and AirAsia India were 66.4 per cent, 64.5 per cent, 71.5 per cent, 70.6 per cent and 65.1 per cent respectively. 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 March, IndiGo had the best on-time performance of 97.8 per cent at four metro airports — Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

    The regulator said that GoAir and SpiceJet were at number two and three positions at these four airports in March with 95.8 per cent and 92.2 per cent on-time performance respectively. 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.

  • Consider imposing fines on passengers not wearing masks properly: DGCA to airports 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Aviation regulator DGCA on Tuesday told airports to consider imposing spot fines, with the help of police authorities, on passengers who are found not wearing masks properly and not maintaining social distancing as per the COVID-19 rules.

    On March 13, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had asked airports and airlines to ensure that passengers wear mask and maintain social distance at all times during air travel, and take action against those violating the norms.

    In a circular issued on Tuesday, the regulator said, “During the surveillance of some airports, it has come to notice that compliance (of COVID-19 protocols) is not satisfactory.”

    “All airport operators, therefore, are requested to ensure that the instructions on COVID-19 protocol from the standpoint of wearing face mask properly, covering nose and mouth, as well as maintaining social distance norms within the airport premises are followed scrupulously,” it said.

    Accordingly, all airport operators can increase surveillance in this regard, the DGCA said.

    “The possibility of taking punitive action, such as levy of spot fines in accordance with the law, shall also be explored with local police authorities so as to serve a deterrent for violation of COVID-19 protocol,” it stated.

    The March 13 circular had asked the airport operators to hand over the passengers, who are not following the COVID-19 protocol even after repeated warnings, to the security agencies.

    Moreover, it had asked the airlines to de-board the passengers who refused to adhere to COVID-19 norms even after repeated warnings and consider banning them from flying for at least three months.

    Fifteen passengers, who were found violating COVID-19 norms on domestic flights of three airlines between March 15 and March 23, might be banned for three months by the carriers, senior officials of the DGCA had said last week.

  • Airlines may ban 15 passengers for three months for not following COVID norms on flights

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Fifteen passengers, who were found violating COVID-19 norms on domestic flights of three airlines this month, may be banned for three months by the carriers, senior officials of aviation regulator DGCA said on Wednesday.

    The DGCA had on March 13 asked airlines to de-board passengers who do not wear their masks “properly” despite repeated warnings and take action against them as per its rules.

    The regulator allows carriers to ban passengers (putting them on no-fly list) for three to 24 months for not following the rules.

    Senior DGCA officials said nine passengers of IndiGo, four of Alliance Air and two passengers of AirAsia India were found violating COVID-19 norms between March 15 and March 23.

    While most of these passengers refused to wear masks onboard the flights, others refused to put on PPE gowns that are compulsory for those sitting in middle seats, they added.

    The officials said the three airlines may put these 15 passengers on their no-fly list for a period of three months.

  • Four passengers handed over to security agencies for not wearing masks properly on flight

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Four passengers were handed over to the security agencies on Tuesday for not wearing masks properly onboard Alliance Air’s Jammu-Delhi flight despite repeated warnings by the cabin crew, said senior government officials on Wednesday.

    Aviation regulator DGCA had on Saturday asked airlines to de-board passengers who do not wear their masks “properly” despite repeated warnings.

    As per the powers given by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s regulations, Alliance Air can classify the aforementioned four passengers as “unruly” and ban them from its flights for any period between three to 24 months, the government officials mentioned.

    Alliance Air is a subsidiary of state-run Air India.

    When asked about this matter, a spokesperson of Alliance Air noted, “The airline caters to passengers in all age group from very young to very old. Alliance Air briefs passengers at every touch point, makes regular in flight announcements.”

    “However, on constant request, when the passengers did not adhere to the laid down guidelines and could have endangered other fellow passengers, we apprised the concerned authorities,” the spokesperson added.

  • Deboard passengers not adhering to COVID norms, wearing mask ‘properly’: DGCA tells airlines

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Seeking to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols by air travellers, aviation regulator DGCA on Saturday asked airlines to deboard passengers who do not wear their mask “properly” despite repeated warnings.

    Also, the watchdog has directed airlines to treat a passenger as “unruly” in case the person violates the protocols.

    The latest directives come against the backdrop of rising number of coronavirus cases in certain parts of the country even as domestic air traffic is improving.

    In a circular issued on Saturday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has also directed the airport operators to ensure that the passengers wear their mask and maintain social distancing norms at all times during the air travel.

    ALSO READ | 20 lakh jabs on Friday, highest so far: Government

    The DGCA said it has been noticed that some travellers undertaking air journey do not adhere to “COVID-19 protocols”, which essentially involve wearing of masks properly — not below the nose, right from entering the departing airport to exiting from the arriving airport.

    pic.twitter.com/YgW0HzrGoc
    — DGCA (@DGCAIndia) March 13, 2021

    Observing that some passengers after entering the airport do not wear their mask properly and maintain social distance while being in the airport, the regulator said that some passengers have been noticed not wearing their masks properly while onboard the aircraft.

    “Onboard the aircraft, in case any passenger does not adhere to wearing a mask properly even after repeated warnings, he/she should be de-boarded, if need be, before departure,” the circular said.

    “In the case of any passenger on board an aircraft refusing to wear a mask or violates the ‘COVID-19 Protocol for passengers’ even after repeated warnings, during the course of the flight, such passengers may be treated as ‘Unruly’ passengers,” as per the DGCA.

    The procedure in respect of handling such unruly passengers will be followed by the airline concerned as per the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), it added.

    The circular said that the passengers will wear masks and maintain social distancing norms at all times during air travel, adding the mask shall not be moved below the nose except under exceptional circumstances.

    Directing the CISF/ police personnel deployed at the entrance of the airport to ensure that no one is allowed to enter the airport without wearing a mask, it said that chief airport security officer and other supervising officers must ensure this personally.

    In case any passenger found violating COVID-19 protocols at the airport, they should be handed over to security agencies after proper warnings, directive said.

    “If required, they may be dealt as per law,” the circular added.

  • Air crew not to fly for 48 hours post COVID-19 vaccine shots, says DGCA in new circular

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Pilots and cabin crew members will not fly in an aircraft for 48 hours after taking the Covid-19 vaccine. If there are no symptoms after 48 hours, they will be declared fit for flying duties, said domestic aviation regulator DGCA on Tuesday.

    “If there are no symptoms after 48 hours, the air crew (which includes pilots and cabin crew) is fit to resume ‘unrestricted’ flying duties,” DGCA said in a circular.

    The crew will be monitored for 30 minutes after being given the shot at the vaccination centre for anaphylactic and idiosyncratic reactions, if any, it said.

    “Air crew will be ‘medically unfit for flying’ for 48 hours after vaccination,” DGCA said.

    If, after 48 hours, the pilot experiences any symptoms, he or she will be reviewed by treating physicians or his or her authorised medical attendant.

    “Such pilots can be declared fit for flying duties provided they are asymptomatic without any medication and a ‘medical care certificate’ to this effect has to be obtained,” added the circular. 

    The DGCA said if the medical unfitness period post-COVID-19 exhibition is more than 14 days, then a ‘special medication examination’ will be required to ascertain fitness for flying.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Aircrew ‘medically unfit’ for flying for 48 hours post Covid-19 vaccination: DGCA

    In the guidelines, the DGCA said Aircrew will be monitored for 30 minutes at the COVID-19 vaccination centre for any anaphylactic or idiosyncratic reaction.

  • Delhi HC takes note of alarming situation of passengers not properly wearing masks in flights

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has taken strong note of an “alarming situation” of passengers not properly wearing masks in flights and issued guidelines to all domestic airlines and DGCA for strict compliance, including penal action for offenders and periodical checks of the aircraft.

    Justice C Hari Shankar, who witnessed passengers not wearing masks properly during transportation from airport to the flight and their stubborn reluctance to wear mask properly, took suo motu cognisance of the situation and issued guidelines for immediate compliance.

    The high court, in its order passed on Monday, said it was constrained to pass the order because of an alarming situation which was witnessed by the judge himself during the Air India flight from Kolkata to New Delhi on March 5.

    It was noticed that, though all the passengers had worn masks, many had worn it below their chin and were exhibiting a stubborn reluctance to wear their masks properly.

    “This behaviour was seen not only in the bus transporting the passengers from the airport to the flight but also within the flight itself. It was only on repeated entreaties made (by me) to the offending passengers that they condescended to wear their masks properly. On the cabin crew being questioned in this regard, they stated that they had directed all the passengers to wear masks, but were helpless in case they did not comply,” the judge said.

    The court said a situation when the country is seeing a resurgence of COVID-2019 cases, after they had shown signs of ebbing, is completely unconscionable.

    “Passengers in a flight are in a closed air-conditioned environment, and, even if one of the passengers suffers from COVID-19, the effect on other passengers could be cataclysmic. It is a matter of common knowledge that being within arm’s length distance of a COVID-19 carrier, even if he is asymptomatic and is merely speaking, is more than sufficient to transmit the virus,” it said.

    The guidelines framed by the court for immediate and strict compliance include that the in-flight crew shall carry out periodical checks of the aircraft to ensure that passengers are complying with the protocol, especially regarding wearing masks.

    The court said that it is made clear that masks should be worn as directed by governmental instructions, covering the nose and mouth, and not worn merely covering the mouth or below the chin. The court said if any passenger is unwilling to follow this protocol prior to the flight taking off, he or she should be offloaded without delay.

    If despite being reminded, he or she refuses to follow the protocol, action should be taken against the passenger in accordance with the guidelines issued by the DGCA or Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, including placing him or her on a ‘no-fly’ regimen, either permanently or for a stipulated, sufficiently long, period, it said.

    The high court also asked DGCA to forthwith and prominently reflect on its website the instructions containing the guidelines and protocols to be followed by passengers and in-flight crew in domestic flights.

    It also directed the airlines to ensure that written instructions regarding the protocol to be followed by passengers in flight, including the measures that could be taken against them on failure to follow it, are provided to the passengers along with the boarding pass.

    “The in-flight announcements which, presently, merely require the passengers to wear masks at all times, should be modified to include a cautionary word regarding the penal action that could be taken against them in the event of default,” it said.

    “In order to ensure compliance, DGCA may consider sending random observers on flights, without prior information, who would check to ensure that the COVID-19 protocols are followed in flight. Strict enforcement of all penal provisions, which could visit delinquent passengers who refuse to abide by the COVID protocols to be maintained in flight, should be ensured. There should be no relaxation whatsoever in that regard,” the order said.

    The court noted that DGCA guidelines permit relaxation from wearing masks in exceptional cases and said it should be allowed only after evaluating the necessity of travelling. It asked the authorities to give adequate publicity to these guidelines and penal action be initiated against the airlines which repeatedly fail to ensure compliance.

    The court said it does not intend to criticise the efforts made by the governmental authorities in trying to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic which has left everyone befuddled regarding the best possible manner to deal with the crisis.

    The court said it is the duty of everyone to contribute towards this end and pointing fingers at the Central and State governments, which have formidable tasks to deal with and are doing all they can, is of no use.

    “Each of us, as members of a conscious and conscientious citizenry, is required to be sensitive and sensitised in equal measure, and to strain every sinew to keep the pandemic at bay. If the citizenry becomes complacent, no government, howsoever activated and alive to the situation, can help,” it said.

    The court said the matter be registered as a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) and listed before an appropriate bench dealing with PILs on March 17. It asked the DGCA and Air India to file their reports before the bench regarding compliance with the guidelines.

  • DGCA allows airlines to provide concession in air fares to customers with no baggage

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Aviation regulator DGCA on Friday allowed airlines to provide concessions in air fares to customers travelling with no check-in baggage.

    The move comes days after the Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) provided greater flexibility to domestic carriers on fixing ticket prices by increasing the minimum fare band on domestic flights tickets.

    “As part of airline baggage policy, scheduled airlines will be allowed to offer free baggage allowance as well as zero baggage/ no check-in baggage fares,” DGCA said in a circular on unbundling of services issued on Friday.

    This will be subject to the condition that the passenger booking ticket under such fare scheme is made aware of the charges that shall be applicable if the passenger turns up with the baggage for check-in at airline counter, it stated.

    The circular further said on the basis of various feedback received, it is felt that many times these services provided by the airline may not be required by the passenger while travelling.

    Considering the fact that unbundling of services and charges there to have the potential to make basic fare more affordable and provides consumer an option of paying from the services which he wishes to be availed, it has been decided by the government to allow certain services to be unbundled and charged separately on opt-in basis, the DGCA said.

    While announcing the resumption of scheduled domestic flights on May 21 last year, the civil aviation ministry had placed limits on airfares through seven bands classified on the basis of flight duration.

  • COVID-19: DGCA extends suspension of international commercial flights till March 31

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Aviation regulator DGCA on Friday extended the suspension of international commercial passenger flight services till March 31.

    Scheduled international flight operations were suspended from March 23 last year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

    “In partial modification of circular dated June 26, 2020, the competent authority has further extended the validity. Regarding scheduled international commercial passenger services to and from India till 23.59 pm IST of March 31, 2021,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a circular.

    However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on select routes by the competent authority on case-to-case basis, it said.

    The restriction will not apply to cargo flights and flights specifically approved by DGCA, the circular added.

    Amid the suspension, special international flights have been allowed under the Vande Bharat Mission since May last year and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with select countries since July.

    India has formed air bubble pacts with several countries including the US, the UK, the UAE, Kenya, Bhutan and France, among others.

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