The Ministry of Civil Aviation conducted a series of meetings with airlines, airport authorities and other key stakeholders on the backdrop of harsh weather conditions and disruptions caused due to dense fog. The discussions in the meeting revolved around solutions for smooth flight operations during low visibility conditions. Of all the suggestions, the top advice by the ministry to the airlines is to communicate effectively with passengers.

The ministry has urged the airlines to communicate clearly, effectively and proactively with the passengers about any potential delays or cancellations or changes in flight schedule due to fog-related visibility issues. The ministry hopes that this will reduce the mounting frustration on passenger’s end and improve the overall travel experience especially during peak winters.

Further to ease passenger travel, the ministry has instructed the airlines to take swift action if the delay in flight is over three hours. In such cases the airlines are expected to cancel the flight to avoid further delays. Besides the ministry has also instructed the airlines that they should not confine passengers over 90 minutes in case of delays while waiting onboard.

A real-time coordination plan is chalked out by the ministry that includes various stakeholders like Air Traffic Control (ATC), Airport Operations Control Centers (AOCC), the Central Air Traffic Flow Management (CATFM), and airline Operations Control Centers (OCCs).

What will this achieve?

  • improve responsiveness and decision-making during low-visibility events such as fog,

  • ensure a more streamlined and efficient approach

  • airlines need to sensitise their Operations Control Centers (OCCs) and war-room representatives to prioritise fog-related challenges

With these steps in place and all relevant people aligned and in the loop in case of any operational changes, effective communication will serve as key to keep everyone updated with real-time status of the issue.