Scindia unveils six-point plan to tackle fog-related disruptions; war rooms to be set-up at airports

In a proactive move, Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced a comprehensive six-point action plan on Tuesday to address the challenges posed by fog-induced disruptions affecting both domestic and international flight operations.

These disruptions have led to widespread delays and cancellations of flights, causing inconvenience to passengers. Minister Scindia shared the details of the new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued to airlines, aiming to alleviate passenger inconvenience during adverse weather conditions.

As part of the action plan, Scindia highlighted that the Centre would now receive daily reports from all six metro airports, ensuring better oversight. Additionally, there will be a focus on the implementation of directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

To enhance immediate response capabilities, he announced the establishment of dedicated “war rooms” by airports and airline operators at all six metro locations. These war rooms will be tasked with addressing issues related to passenger inconvenience promptly.

He also assured the deployment of sufficient manpower from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) round-the-clock to ensure security at airports. Notably, he emphasized that Runway 29L at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has been upgraded to CAT III operational status, enabling it to handle take-offs and departures even in dense fog scenarios. Additionally, Runway 10/28, also with CAT III status, is slated to become operational soon. This particular runway, the oldest at the airport, underwent closure last year for maintenance following the G20 Summit in Delhi.

Acknowledging recent passenger frustrations due to communication issues and schedule delays caused by adverse weather conditions, Scindia urged passengers to exercise patience. He emphasized that the decision to suspend flight operations at Delhi airport was made with paramount consideration for passenger safety.

He had previously stated that SOPs, directed at improving communication and passenger facilitation, would soon be issued to all airlines. He expressed his earnest request for understanding during this challenging period.