The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday urged airlines to provide accurate real-time information on flight delays and sensitise airport staff to effectively communicate with passengers during fog-related disruptions. In response to a notable increase in flight delays and cancellations, the aviation watchdog issued a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for for airlines to control the resulting chaos. The DGCA emphasised the importance of airlines disseminating real-time information about flight delays and ensuring that airport staff is well-trained to communicate with passengers. There should also be appropriate sensitisation of the airline staff at the airports to suitably communicate with and continuously guide and inform the passengers about flight delays, according to a release. "In view of the prevalent fog season and adverse weather conditions, airlines may cancel, sufficiently in advance, such flights that are anticipated to be delayed or consequentially delayed on account of such conditions beyond a period of 3 hours with a view to obviate congestion at the airport and mitigate passenger inconvenience," the regulator said. These SOPs have been released in response to fog-induced disruptions and adverse weather conditions at various airports, including Delhi airport, causing inconvenience to passengers through delays and cancellations, as mentioned in an official release. The issuance of these guidelines follows Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia's statement that all stakeholders are collaborating tirelessly to minimise disruptions in flight operations caused by fog.
