New Delhi: With winter fog expected to disrupt flight schedules, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airlines to prioritize timely passenger communication and cancel flights delayed beyond three hours. The guidelines were issued during a review meeting on fog preparedness chaired by Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday.
The meeting included senior officials from the ministry, DGCA, BCAS, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), and airline representatives. Airlines were instructed to use CAT II/III compliant aircraft and trained pilots for operations at airports prone to low visibility, including Delhi, where three out of four runways are equipped with CAT III Instrument Landing Systems (ILS).
Key directives include ensuring that passengers are promptly informed about delays or cancellations and maintaining fully staffed check-in counters to reduce inconvenience. Airlines must also record accurate contact details during ticket bookings to facilitate communication.
DIAL has been tasked with installing LED screens to provide real-time updates on visibility conditions and increasing the availability of ‘Follow Me’ vehicles to guide aircraft in low-visibility situations.
These measures follow significant disruptions earlier this week, when over 100 flights were delayed, and 15 were diverted due to bad weather in Delhi. The ministry emphasized real-time coordination between airlines, air traffic controllers, and ground handlers to minimize disruptions.
The government’s proactive approach aims to reduce passenger inconvenience during the challenging fog season, which typically begins in early December.
