DGCA pulls up airport panel for ‘incomplete’ meetings on delays

The committee to examine on-time performance of airlines was formed in July,after the Civil Aviation Ministry decided on such local panels for Delhi and Mumbai airports. A full meeting of the committee would ideally consist of a minimum of eight representatives of Indian carriers and one official each from Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL),with the latter responsible for convening the meetings. The meetings are held daily.

“It becomes difficult to spare manpower daily for an hour or two for the performance meeting,” said an airport official. “These meetings do take place and are being chaired by MIAL. There were quorum issues but the meetings are going on and we are filing daily reports with the attendance to the DGCA,” said an MIAL official.

“The on-time component at airports is good. Now we’re focusing on other requirements to minimise delays. We have asked them to continue the meetings,as it is a very important component to improve on-time performance,” said the DG. The average on-time performance at airports across India is at 75 per cent,with the Mumbai and Delhi airports ranked among the most delay-prone in terms of arrivals. Also,the current reconstruction of the secondary runway and recarpeting work carried out every Tuesday has significantly delayed morning departures out of the Mumbai airport.