Air Travel Corona Guidelines: DGCA Asks Airports To Impose Fines On Passengers Not Wearing Masks 'Properly'

DGCA Air Travel Corona Guidelines: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday said that passengers at some airports were found not wearing face masks properly despite repeated warnings.

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In view of sudden spike in number of Coronavirus cases in India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday asked the airport operators to consider imposing spot fines on passengers flouting COVID-19 rules.

The aviation authority said that passengers at some airports were found not wearing face masks properly and not maintaining social distancing despite repeated warnings.

In an official advisory circular issued today, DGCA noted, "During the surveillance of some airports, it has come to notice that compliance (of COVID-19 protocols) is not satisfactory. All airport operators, therefore, are requested to ensure that the instructions on Covid-19 protocol from the standpoint of wearing masks properly and covering nose and mouth, as well as maintaining social distance norms within the airport premises are followed scrupulously."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/3Iw52Wvxjz" rel='nofollow'>pic.twitter.com/3Iw52Wvxjz</a></p>&mdash; DGCA (@DGCAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/DGCAIndia/status/1376802186710032389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>March 30, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The aviation authority said that all airport operators can increase surveillance in this regard. "The possibility of taking punitive action, such as levy of spot fines in accordance with the law, shall also be explored with the local police authorities so as to serve a deterrent for violation of COVID-19 protocol," it stated in the notice.

Earlier this month, the DGCA has issued new rules to be followed by all passengers in view of rising cases of Coronavirus in the country. It said that passengers spotted not wearing masks properly inside the aircraft or not following "Covid-19 appropriate behaviour" will be "de-boarded" from flights. He/she will be treated as 'Unruly Passenger' if reported to be violating protocol despite repeated warnings.