In the midst of the longest international flight times caused by the closure of Pakistan airspace for Indian carriers, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday issued an acceleration advice to intensify communication and flight services for passengers.
With Pakistan closing their skies, several international flights, especially those of cities in northern India such as Delhi, are now taking longer routes and even making technical stops along the way. To manage this, the DGCA has launched a set or measures to handle passengers focused on transparency, comfort and security.
The advice highlights five key areas: keep passengers informed before flights, improve restaurants and comfort, strengthen medical preparation and support in alternative airports, Bosting customer service equipment and guarantee simple coordination between departments.
Also read:Pakistan airspace fall to reach India-Europe flights, India-US; Rates can climb, airplanes emit notices
The Aviation Regulator said that the airspace restrictions have led to an important flight route change, longer blocking times and the possibility of technical stops for operational or fuel replenishing needs.
This is what airlines have said to do:
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Communication prior to the flight: Passengers must be clearly informed about route changes, longer travel times and any technical stop, where they will generally remain on board. Airlines must communicate this in Check-In’s counters, shipping doors already through SMS or email alerts when possible.
Also read: The government asks the airlines not to ensure the air rates of Srinagar; Airlines to operate Addl flights
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Catering and Comfort in flight: With the increase in flight hours, airlines must update catering plans to sacrifice meals, drinks, dried and special snacks based on passenger requests.
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Medical preparation and alternative airfields: Airlines must ensure that medical kits are well supplied and emergency support, including ambulances, is available in alternative airports. The cabin crew must be ready to handle passenger fatigue or any medical problem.
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Preparation for customer service: Airlines must prepare their call centers and support equipment to handle delays, lost connections and provide help or compensation in line with regulatory rules.
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Intradepational coordination: Flight office, commercial equipment, land managers, flight services and medical suppliers must work together without problems to minimize interruptions.
The DGCA has made it clear that ignoring these guidelines, or causing inconvenience to passengers, could attract strict actions of civil aviation requirements (CAR).