The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)’s latest order must be seen as a bid to decongest airports in the world’s fastest-growing aviation market. The chances of a passenger waiting several agonising hours inside the claustrophobic aircraft cabin owing to a delayed flight may be minimised following the aviation safety regulator Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS)’s latest order.
“We have formulated a new rule where in case of exceptional delays owing to inclement weather, onboard emergencies such as a passenger reporting sick or passing away, or technical issues, passengers can be brought back to the airport’s departure area,” Zulfiquar Hasan, Director General told media on the sidelines of the agency’s 38th Raising Day celebrations in New Delhi Monday.
Hasan said the order, notified on March 30, would be applicable with immediate effect.
“This will ensure less harassment to passengers, provided the airport has the infrastructure specified by us in the order,” he added.
Saying the onus now entirely rested with airport operators, he said they would have to assess their preparedness, including rules for passenger screening.
Hasan further stressed that to ensure a smooth rollout the airline, airport and security, all have to be on the same page.
On being deplaned from a delayed flight, passengers would be brought to a specially designated area in the airport’s departure lounge.
In case an airline still didn’t deplane passengers of a delayed flight, BCAS and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) would take a final call, said Hasan.
“However, if the airline starts acting funny, then we will do it! Like, if the airline holds you onboard for two hours, BCAS or CISF will seek an explanation for passengers being detained on the flight,” cautioned Hasan.
BCAS’ latest order must be seen as a bid to decongest airports in the world’s fastest-growing aviation market.
Indian carriers flew 257.78 lakh passengers in the January-February period vs 246.11 lakh during the same time last year, registering an annual growth of 4.74 per cent and monthly growth of 4.80 per cent, according to aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data.
Bad Weather Delays to New Rule
In January, BCAS levied a penalty of Rs 2.10 crore on India’s largest airline by market share and fleet IndiGo and its second busiest aviation hub Mumbai International Airport (MIAL).
The action was occasioned by harried passengers of IndiGo’s diverted flight 6E 2195 (Goa-Delhi) squatting on the tarmac on January 14, which was deemed to be a violation of existing aviation safety rules. The flight was delayed by several hours due to heavy fog over Delhi.
In its strongly worded order, the regulator alleged that both the carrier and the airport operator not only failed to comply with the laid down security procedures but also did not report the incident. This is by far the highest fine imposed on aviation companies in the country’s history.
Senior aviator and author of the critically acclaimed book The Old Bold Pilot, Captain Shakti Lumba told East Mojo, “Systemic issues such as archaic rules for air operations, delay in runway works, not updating airline staff on any changes in processes and lack of space at major metro airports due to sizeable area being taken up for commercial activity leading to such crises need to be addressed on priority!”
Hasan said Indian airports handling more than 5 million passengers annually would be introducing Full Body Scanners (FBS) shortly.
“Initially, a few machines will be installed in one or two lanes in the security check area,” he said.
The rollout may start over the next few months, with Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport becoming the first to introduce this technology subject to FBS machines installed in newly constructed Terminal -2 being approved by regulators such as BCAS.
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