NEW DELHI : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has advocated airlines to provide refreshments and snacks when flights are delayed. On Friday, The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) stressed airlines to support there passengers in case of flight delays to improve ease and accessibility during inconvenience. Low visibility in Delhi led many flights to detour leading to further delays, thereby causing discomfort to passengers who’d have to wait for 2-4 hours in cold weather.
In a post by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on social media platform X (previously Twitter), instructs airlines to provide drinking water to passengers for flight delays upto 2 hours, refreshments such as Tea & Coffee with snacks for holds between 2-4 hours and Complimentary meals for delays exceeding 4 hours. These instructions were shared to address growing frustration among passengers as many conveyed their annoyance via X posts over delayed flights due to bad weather and poor visibility.
In pursuance to Para 3.8.1(a) of CAR Section 3, Series M Part IV issued by DGCA, Airlines have been advised to provide facilities to passengers during flight delays. These measures are designed to prioritize passenger convenience during unforeseen disruptions.
As per advisory… pic.twitter.com/LhKH4bjnNS
— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) November 22, 2024
In a meeting directed by Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday, November 20, the issue of delayed flights due to fog was discussed with contributors. He gave firm directives to airlines to inform passengers about flight delays in advance and ensuring that right number of staff is present at check-in counters for assisting Fliers.
The meeting also addresses a concern put up by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) – Passengers were confined to the aircraft for hours due to delays and were not allowed to exit, this resulted in growing frustration among passengers, who have been raising concerns about it for many years now. Airlines didn’t allowed this as fliers would have to go through re-checks again which could alter the timings for take-off, missing there scheduled take-off time could push them further back in the queue leading to more delay.
The meeting addressed this issue by allowing passengers to exit aircraft through there assigned flight gate in case of delays.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation also stressed upon airlines to provide reimbursement in case the flight is cancelled or provides another flight with no additional charges and offer catering service in case of delayed flight.
