NEW DELHI: Failure to wear masks and follow all other Covid protocol on aircraft could land air travellers on the no-fly list and fines for defying the norms at airports.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday reiterated the pandemic-time rules for flyers following a
Delhi High Court judge saw poor compliance of the same on a recent domestic flight.
The HC had last Friday directed the DGCA to issue binding directions to all aviation stakeholders for taking strict action against Covid norm violators — both fine and no fly list for persistent defaulters — for effective deterrence.
Accordingly, the regulator on Wednesday laid down protocol inside airports and aircraft “for strict compliance” by each separate aviation service provider.
Airlines have to ensure “all passengers wear face mask properly throughout the journey… masks can be removed under exceptional circumstances and for permitted reasons only.”
Airlines have to sensitise passengers on the norms via all available channels and make regular onboard announcements.
“In case any passenger does not adhere to above instructions even after repeated warnings, he / she should be de-boarded, if need be, before departure. In case any passenger on board an aircraft refuses to wear mask or violates the covid-19 protocol even after repeated warnings during the course of the flight, such passenger may be treated as unruly,” the rules issued by DGCA joint DG Maneesh Kumar say. Action like putting them on no fly list will follow.
The rules for airports say that CISF should not allow anyone without a mask to enter the place. “All airport operators directed to increase airport announcements and surveillance to ensure that passengers at terminal are wearing face masks properly and follow covid-appropriate behaviour at all times. (Violators) should be fined as per respective state law where the airport is located and he may even be handed over to security agencies for (action),” the rules say.
Both airlines and airport operators have to ensure heightened sanitation and hygiene measures. “ The adherence to above directions shall be ensured by all concerned with immediate effect. Appropriate action as per the applicable provisions would be initiated in case of any violation by any airline or any airport operator of the directions,” Kumar’s order says.
On June 3, Delhi HC acting chief justice Sachin Datta had said in his order “the pandemic has still not fully abated and keeps springing up its ugly head.” One of the DGCA lawyers was appearing virtually as she was then infected with Covid. “The present PIL was registered based on the experience of one of the learned judges of this court while undertaking an Inland flight. It is noticed that very often norms are not implemented on the ground with the seriousness with which they are framed. It is, therefore, essential for the respondents (DGCA) to ensure that the implementation on the ground is effective,” Justice Datta’s order says.
“For this purpose, we are of the view that DGCA should issue separate binding directions to all staff persons deployed at the airports and in the aircrafts, including flight attendants, air hostesses, captains/ pilots and others, to take strict action against passengers and others who violate the masking and hygiene norms. All such persons who are found to violate the said norms should be appropriately fined and persistent defaulters should be placed on the no fly list. In our view, it is essential to have a sufficient deterrence to enforce compliance of the norms aforesaid,” the order added.