Taking a jet plane? Alert! Here is what airlines will start doing soon for delayed, cancelled flights

If you are a frequent flyers, this development will certainly make you happy as aviation regulator DGCA today issued directive to all airlines to update passengers whose flights have been delayed, cancelled or whose boarding gates have changed. The DGCA has asked all the airlines to send text messages after every 30 minutes to such passengers. The direction has come in the wake of complaints lodged on social media that the airlines fail to inform the passengers on time about flight's delay, cancellation or boarding gate change, causing them immense problem.

"The airlines should make all efforts to send SMS in case there is a delay in flight beyond 30 minutes or a boarding gate change has taken place at the airport," a PTI report quoted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as saying. The regulator has reportedly asked the travel agents to share the mobile number of passengers with the airlines to ease the process of sending flight information updates.

The DGCA further said, "Airlines must send repeated SMS after every 30 minutes to keep the passengers updated for the flight delay/cancellation/ boarding gate change," adding "The airlines must keep close coordination with their travel agents. The travel agents must share the mobile numbers of the travelling passenger with the airlines for flight information updates."

The DGCA also noted that if a ticket has to be refunded through a travel agent, the airlines must ensure that it happens in a timely manner. It also said that airlines must give all necessary assistance to the passengers for their connecting flights, while adding "Airlines must ensure proper conduct and behaviour of their employees towards passengers."

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Earlier on Thursday, DGCA chief Arun Kumar held a meeting with the "appellate authority and nodal officers of all scheduled domestic airlines" to discuss matters related to passengers grievance reddressal.