New Delhi: In the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, tensions have escalated, leading Pakistan to close its airspace for Indian aircraft. To handle the situation Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a detailed advisory to airline operators, mandating enhanced passenger-handling measures to ensure transparency, compliance and welfare.
It has been stated that the advisory has been brought into immediate effect and will remain valid until further notice as India navigates the operational challenges emerging from the geopolitical situation with Pakistan, after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.
As per an official document, the DGCA noted that recent international airspace closures and overflight restrictions have impacted airline operations, causing rerouting of the flights, increased block times compared to scheduled durations, as well as the possibility of technical halts en route for operational or fuel requirements.
Considering this situation, the airlines have been directed to proactively communicate with passengers about changes in routing, revised total travel time and the possibility of operational technical stops at intermediate airports.
It has also been understood that this information needs to be conveyed clearly at check-in, boarding gates, and where feasible, through SMS or email alerts.
While addressing in-flight catering and comfort, the advisory stresses that catering uplift must match the revised block time, ensuring adequate meals, additional hydration, snacks and special meals as per manifest requests.
The airlines also need to bolster medical preparedness by ensuring onboard medical kits are sufficient for extended operations and validating that technical halt airports have the emergency medical support and ground ambulance availability.
Additionally, the advisory by the DGCA mandates that the cabin crew members of the flights should be briefed on managing passengers’ fatigue, discomfort or medical incidents. The airlines must strengthen customer service readiness by briefing call centre and reservations teams about potential delays and disruptions, establishing procedures for missed onward connections, as well as preparing for compensatory actions as per Civil Aviation Regulations (CAR) provisions.
Highlighting the inter-departmental coordination, the DGCA advisory further instructs operators to ensure seamless collaboration between flight dispatch teams, commercial and customer support, ground handling, inflight service providers, as well as medical vendors at designated alternate airports.
The DGCA has categorically stated that compliance with these measures is mandatory in the interest of passenger safety, comfort, and regulatory adherence.
Airlines failing to implement these requirements risk enforcement action under the applicable CARs.
