Passengers will now no longer have to spend hours inside stationary aircraft in the event of delays. New guidelines issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) allow passengers to exit aircraft through the airport departure gates (used by passengers arriving at airports to board flights) if there’s a significant delay in a flight.
The directive from the civil aviation security watchdog follows growing instances of congestion and flight delays, which have led to passengers being stranded inside aircraft for extended periods, according to news agency PTI.
BCAS Director General Zulfiquar Hasan said on Monday that the guidelines were issued to airlines and airport operators on 30 March, and are now in force.
Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of a function to mark the 38th Raising Day of the BCAS, he said the guidelines would ensure “less harassment” for passengers.
In case of long flight delays and other emergencies after boarding, passengers will be allowed to exit through the departure gate of the airport concerned, he added.
“Airport operators have to make arrangements for the infrastructure, including for screening, for implementing the guidelines,” Hasan said. Decisions regarding deboarding passengers will be made by the airlines and security agencies, he added.
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On January 17, the BCAS imposed fines totalling Rs 1.80 crore on IndiGo and Mumbai airport operator MIAL after passengers on a Goa-Delhi flight — reportedly diverted to Mumbai after hours of delay — were seen consuming food on the tarmac.
Domestic air traffic is on the rise and around 3,500 flights take off every day. Hasan had earlier described instances of airport congestion as “unwelcome”, saying the agency had developed optimum standards and tools to tackle the issue.
Efforts are also underway to enhance passenger experience at airports, including the implementation of smart security lanes, according to a PTI report quoting Hasan.
The BCAS director general also mentioned plans to introduce full-body scanners at Bengaluru airport this month, with subsequent rollouts planned for airports with annual passenger traffic exceeding 5 million.
Hasan was quoted as saying that the changes brought about by the measures are visible even as he stressed that “keeping pace with growth is a challenge”.
Among other measures, in February, the BCAS directed seven scheduled airlines to ensure the timely arrival of baggage at airports after landing. The directive followed passenger complaints about baggage delays.