Govt to Institutionalise Routine Airline Reviews, Says Aviation Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has planned to institutionalise routine reviews with airlines on operational matters. In a video conference chaired by the civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, on Thursday, the minister asked all the airport directors to review ground-level preparedness and passenger support mechanisms, the Economic Times reported. 

The development comes amidst a time when multiple flights operated by the Indian airlines have been cancelled or returned mid-way due to issues, including post-accident checks, weather changes, closing of certain airspaces due to geopolitical tensions.

Besides this, the ministry issued several key directives, including close communication with airlines to ensure passenger grievances are addressed swiftly and in a timely manner and sufficient personnel must be deployed at key touchpoints to support passengers. In case of flight delays or congestion, the availability of food, drinking water and adequate seating facilities at terminals must be ensured. 

Additionally, airport directors have been asked to offer all possible assistance to airlines facing operational disruptions like gate reassignments and logistical support. 

The government’s intense scrutiny and measures to ensure passenger grievances are resolved come after the June 12 Air India Ahmedabad plane crash, which took the lives of more than 270 people.

Apart from this, the civil aviation minister held a high-level meeting with the chairman and MD of Air India. The talks centered around three significant issues, including maintaining operational continuity, supporting transparency and accountable communication with the public and passengers’ safety and convenience. The Tata Group airline has also been asked to strengthen its ground-level coordination at airports and effective communication with passengers regarding cancellations/delays. 

The union civil aviation minister also held discussions, with top-level officials of airlines, including SpiceJet, Indigo and Akasa Air on June 18 and 19 to review fleet performance, safety oversight, passenger experience & convenience and the carriers communication strategy.