In response to extended flying durations caused by Pakistan’s closure of its airspace to Indian carriers, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a detailed advisory to airlines on Saturday, emphasising the importance of clear passenger communication and improved onboard services.
The move comes as international flights originating from north Indian cities, especially Delhi, are now required to take longer alternate routes, resulting in increased block times and, in some cases, technical halts, reported PTI.
Block time refers to the total duration from takeoff to landing, including any unplanned or intermediate stops. In its advisory, the DGCA highlighted key areas for carriers to focus on, including passenger communication prior to departure, in-flight comfort and catering, emergency preparedness, support for disrupted travel schedules, and coordination across airline departments.
Flight Operations Disrupted by Airspace Ban
The advisory has been issued amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed at least 26 people. On Thursday, Pakistan officially closed its airspace to Indian airlines, significantly impacting several international routes. As a result, many flights have been forced to reroute, leading to longer travel times and additional operational challenges.
“Due to recent developments involving international airspace closures and overflight restrictions, airline operations have been impacted. There are significant rerouting of international and regional flights, increased block times compared to scheduled durations, and possibility of technical halts enroute for operational or fuel requirements,” the DGCA stated.
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Passenger Experience and Support Under Focus
To mitigate passenger inconvenience, the DGCA has instructed airlines to inform travellers about any revised flight timings and routing changes well in advance. “Airlines have to ensure that all passengers are proactively informed about the change in routing due to airspace restrictions and revised total expected travel time (departure to arrival),” it said. The advisory also specified that passengers must be told about possible technical stops at intermediate airports, noting, “the technical stop is operational in nature and that they will generally remain onboard during such stops.”
Airlines are expected to provide these updates at multiple touchpoints, including check-in counters, boarding gates, and, where possible, via SMS or email alerts. Additionally, the DGCA has called on airlines to adjust catering services based on the extended flight durations to ensure that enough meals and beverages are available throughout the journey.
“Airlines must ensure that catering uplift is revised based on actual expected block time (including technical halt) so that adequate meals and beverages are available for the full duration,” the DGCA noted. It also stressed the need for sufficient medical resources onboard and instructed carriers to equip flights with appropriate first aid kits.
To support customers experiencing delays or missed connections, airlines have been advised to train call center and reservation staff to manage disruptions effectively. The DGCA emphasised that airlines should also create protocols for handling alternate travel arrangements and providing assistance to affected passengers.
Meanwhile, budget carrier IndiGo confirmed on Friday that about 50 of its international routes are facing longer sector times, with potential scheduling changes on the horizon. “With the same restrictions and limited rerouting options, unfortunately Almaty and Tashkent are outside the operational range of IndiGo’s current fleet,” the airline said. As a result, flights to Almaty will be suspended from April 27 to at least May 7, and to Tashkent from April 28 until May 7.
