Minister orders airlines to prioritize safety, cancel flights delayed more than 3 hours

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): On Wednesday, Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu called on airlines to enhance communication with passengers regarding potential delays or cancellations caused by visibility issues. He emphasized that flights delayed by more than three hours should be canceled to ensure a "passenger-centric approach" and focus on passenger safety.

The call came after significant disruptions at Delhi Airport on Monday, when poor visibility due to bad weather caused delays and the diversion of 14 flights. In response to such conditions, three out of four runways at the airport have activated the CAT III Instrument Landing System (ILS), designed to enable secure landings even in extremely low visibility. Minister Naidu chaired a high-level review meeting on fog preparedness to address these concerns.

The Civil Aviation Ministry issued a statement confirming that all airlines are complying with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines to deploy CAT II/III trained pilots and aircraft at fog-affected airports, including Delhi. CAT III trained pilots are specifically authorized to operate under low-visibility conditions.

In addition to technical measures, the Delhi Airport operator has been instructed to install LED screens in key areas to provide real-time updates on visibility and enhance the availability of "Follow Me" vehicles to guide aircraft during poor visibility.

The Minister also directed airlines to inform passengers promptly about any delays or cancellations due to visibility issues and to cancel flights if the delay exceeds three hours. Furthermore, he stressed that airlines must ensure accurate passenger contact details are recorded during booking. During peak hours, all check-in counters must be fully staffed to minimize inconvenience, and passengers should be kept informed throughout any delays or cancellations.