The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday issued a circular instructing the airlines to keep the middle seat vacant if the passenger load and seat capacity permits. The order, which will be effective from June 3, however, States that members of the same family can be allowed to sit together.
If the middle seat, or the seat between two passengers, is occupied due to passenger load, then additional protective equipment like the Ministry of Textiles-approved wrap-around gown will be given to the individual occupying the intervening seat, in addition to three-layered face mask and face shield. The Government had earlier said it would not be viable to keep middle seats vacant as fares would shoot up.
From now on, no meals or drinking water shall be provided on board except in extreme circumstance, the DGCA order read. The DGCA order said airlines must provide a safety kit to each passenger. It shall include a three-layered surgical mask, a face shield and adequate amount of sanitiser in either a sachet or a bottle.
The embarkation or disembarkation shall be sequential and passengers shall be advised by airlines to follow the instructions. The passenger should not rush towards the exit as soon as the flight lands. Airlines must ensure the orderly entry and exit of the travellers, it said.
As per the order, Airlines shall set the air-conditioning system in such a way that the air gets replaced at the shortest possible intervals.
The aircraft will have to be sanitised after the end of each travel when there is no passenger on board. However, on transit flights, when passengers are on board, the vacated seats (including its contacts), will be sanitised. At the end of the day, each aircraft will be deep cleaned as per procedure. Special attention has to be given to seat belts and all other contact points.
The airplane lavatories will be cleaned or sanitised frequently during the flight. The airlines will also carry out health check-up of all the crew regularly. All the flying/cabin crew will be given full protective suits. At the end of the day, each aircraft must be deep cleaned, DGCA advised.
The DGCA circular noted that the recommendations were submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation by the expert committee, constituted by the Ministry in pursuance of the observation of the Supreme Court and in interest of the safety of passengers. The domestic commercial flights started after two months on May 25. International flights will not resume till end of June.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had also raised questions on allowing bookings for the middle seats on Air India’s “Vande Bharat” flights. “How can you say it will not affect anyone? Outside (aircraft), there should be a social distancing of at least 6 feet. Will the virus know it is in the aircraft and is not supposed to infect?,” the apex court questioned.