DGCA to airlines: ‘Keep middle seat vacant if possible’

Recently, when domestic flights were restarted, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation received much criticism for not making it mandatory for airlines to keep the middle seat in flights vacant.  This is a violation of social distancing norms.  

On Monday, the DGC has issued fresh directions on air travel and said that airlines should attempt to keep the middle seat vacant as far as possible. 

The DGCA said that if it’s not possible to keep the middle seat vacant due to rush, then the passenger sitting in the seat should be given a “wrap-around gown” along with a 3-layered mask and a face shield.  

The new directive added that members of the same family may be allowed to sit together.

Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri today said that steps are being taken to seamlessly integrate the movement of essential cargo with domestic flights and optimise the utilisation of belly cargo capacity.  “The Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines for lockdown 5.0 announced on May 30 will facilitate the gradual and calibrated reopening of the aviation sector.  As we move towards a critical mass of 50-60 percent operation of domestic flights, our ability to resume international operations will also improve,” he added.