New rule delays 60 flights, angers airlines

First day, first blow. The implementation of the air transport civil aviation requirement (Car) by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to reduce congestion at the Mumbai airport resulted in departure delays of 60 flights in eight hours on Monday. Under the new rules, if airlines fail to push back (when a tractor hauls the plane to the taxiway) within the allotted time, they are given new slots 30-90 minutes later.

“Because of the rule, airlines had to close the door of the plane 20 minutes before departure,” said an airline official. “As it was practically impossible for us to close the doors at that time, the push-back time got delayed and our turn came 30 minutes later.

This, in turn, led to consequential delays as the delayed flights ate into the slots of the ones on schedule.”

An Air India spokesperson said six of their flights were delayed and that they will try to work with the new rules by asking passengers to report earlier than scheduled. The sudden ‘need to improve Indian aviation’ without taking airlines into confidence has angered operators. “The aviation ministry met us last Friday and decided to implement the circular without even giving us the time to get into the details and the practicality of the issue,” a spokesperson of a private airline said.

Airlines say they have to grapple with several situations which could cause delays. “What if the plane is at the remote bay or there is a wheel-chair bound passenger, which delays the push-back time?” the spokesperson said. “Moreover, there is only one runway 09-27 which is available; 14-32 is not used during monsoon. There are not adequate taxi-ways. When such blaring infrastructure problems exist, how can they blame the airlines for delays?”

A Mumbai airport official said the DGCA implemented the rule to keep the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on its toes.

“During morning peak hours, half of the CISF staff is not there for security checks. Those present are over-burdened with huge passenger queues,” the official said. “This leads to delays as passengers reach the aircraft just minutes before departure. The new rule ensures that passengers make it to the aircraft on time (20 minutes before time).”

Though airlines are willing to implement Car, they have demanded some changes. MG Jhungare, general manager, Mumbai air traffic control, refused to attend a meeting with Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) and airline officials on Monday to iron out the differences. “It was decided that the MIAL will meet the aviation ministry and ask for some modifications in the circular,” an airline official said. One of the demands is a five-minute cushion time other than the allotted push-back time.

An MIAL spokesperson confirmed there was such a meeting, but refused to comment on the issue.