See the rules before planning for Flight : DGCA

After the news of Operating Airlines from 25th May 2020 came out, all were waiting for the guidelines from DGCA.Today DGCA issued the Guidelines for Both Passengers and Airlines for opting the procedures for operating Flights.

These says All The Airlines shall make all arrangements so as to ensure that the risk of transmission of COVID-19 virus is minimized. Precautionary measures need to be taken within the aircraft as well at the time of check-in. boarding and arrival at the destination.

The airlines shall ensure coordination among the other service providers such as the airports, security agencies, ground handling agencies etc. without comprising on the generality of the above,

The airlines shall take the following measures:

Pre-Departure Requirements-

1.) All airlines to disseminate the information regarding the precautionary measures to be taken by the passengers. This should be done through their web-sites, travel agents, call centres, display at airports, assistance booths at the airports, etc.

2.) Airlines to train and educate their staff and the staff of the ground handlers about the various measures that need to be taken.

3.) Airlines to ensure that their aircraft are sanitized after every trip and at the end of the day, as per the protocol prescribed by the DGCA.

4.) All airlines to take adequate steps to ensure that all tickets are sold electronically. They should build enough redundancy so as to ensure uninterrupted service to the passengers

5.) Educate the passenger about the web check-in process. They should provide alternatives if a passenger does not have a computer at home. Facilities of tele check-in should also be provided.

6.) Informal passengers that they will have to necessarily follow a web check- in/ tele check-in process

7.) Airlines should devise a system that web-check-in or tele check-in is possible only when the passenger certifies the status of their health through the Aarogya Setu App or a self-declaration form.

8.) The passenger shall give a declaration to the following effect
 - I am/a not residing in any containment zone.
 - I shall make my mobile number / contact details available to the airlines whenever required by them.

9.) The airlines shall ensure that the boarding pass is issued only after the declaration given above has been made by the passenger.

10.) The airlines shall inform the passenger that only one check-in baggage is allowed apart from the hand baggage.

11.) The hand baggage shall be governed by the normal norms of the airline .The check-in baggage should not exceed 20 kg. beyond which the airlines can charge.

12.) The booking system of the airlines should provide for printing of baggage tag by the passenger himself/herself.

13.) Airport must Inform the passenger that the reporting time at the airport is at least two hours before the scheduled time of departure.

14.) The body temperature of each passenger to be taken and Symptomatic passengers should not be allowed to enter the airport.

15.) For passengers with special needs like wheel chair, unaccompanied minor then the stuff shall  be in full protection gear.

Baggage Drop Facilities- 

1.) Airlines should provide enough number of counters to facilitate easy baggage drop by the passengers.

2.) At the baggage drop counter management shall be made such that the passenger displays the PNR and his/her identification to the staff.

3.) The passenger shall also show/indicate the PNR number written/printed on his/her baggage to the staff. Upon confirmation, the staff shall print the baggage tag, attach it on the bag and accept the bag.

4.) Instead of issuing a printed receipt to the passenger, an electronic receipt in the form of an SMS shall be sent to the passenger.

5.) Only one hand baggage and one piece of checked-in baggage (20 kg) to be permitted in initial phase.

6.) The baggage drop procedure to be completed at least 60 minutes before departure

7.) The airline should prominently display the precautionary steps to be taken by the passenger

8.) Any payment made on account of tickets/excess baggage etc to be accepted through Digital Mode only.

9.) Airline to release passengers for security after check-in/ baggage drop of in restricted numbers to ensure social distancing at the security gates


At the Boarding Gate-

1.) Airlines to make announcements at the waiting area and educate the passenger

2.) Boarding to commence 60 minutes before departure and gate to close at D 20 minutes.

3.) Airlines to supply protection kit to cach passenger (three layered surgical masks, face shield and sanitizer) near the boarding gate.

4.) They should wear mask and sanitize their hands before proceeding to the boarding gate for scanning of the boarding pass.

5.) Passengers to continue wearing the mask throughout.

6.) The body temperature of each passenger to be taken at the boarding Symptomatic passengers should not be permitted to board the aircraft

7.) Staggered sequential boarding in batches of 10 to be practiced.

8.) If possible, self-scanning of paper /c-boarding pass. The passengers to display their ID before boarding

9.) No passenger to be allowed to board without face mask.

10.) Check-in of the boarding pass would be done by the passenger by seir scanning of e-boarding pass.

11.) Passengers would be required to show their ID card to the airline staff at the boarding gate.

12.) If a bus is being used for boarding, the airlines shall ensure that the bus is not crowded. Also, the bus should be sanitized continuously.

13.) Airlines ensure that there is no crowding on the step ladder. The grab rails of the step ladder should be sanitized continuously

14.) Inside the Alert Throughout the night, hygiene and sanitation shall be maintained by the passengers. Face to face interaction to be minimized


In-Flight-

1.) Cabin Crew must wear PPE kit, which includes full body gown, shoe cover, mask, gloves etc.

2.) All passengers shall wear face mask while in the aircraft

3.) Hand baggage to be restricted to bare minimum.

4.) Storage bins to be closed RS soon as full so as to avoid warranted touch. Mad over-sized /excess cahin bagage, if any, as early as possible and send to Cargo hold

5.) Passenger to be advised to minimize use of lavatory and to avoid any non essential movement in the aircraft.

6.) Ensure that there is no queuing at the lavatory and only one companion for children and the elderly to be allowed

7.) There shall be no meal services in the aircraft

8.) Water bottle to be made available on the seats of Passengers.

9.) Passengers would not be permitted to consume any bottles inside the aircraft during the flight (except on health round)

10.) No paper magazine will be available in the aircraft

11.) Their would be no onboard sale of any item.l

12.) On arrival at the destination the passengers should be allowed to exit in line to avoid any bunching.

13.) Airplane lavatories to be done/antimatter every one hour of flight.

14.) Sprayed with disinfectant solution from time to time Clearance of seat pocket of all except for safety card, which will be replaced or sanitized after every night All on board sales suspended.