The domestic airline industry has been asked to prominently display and include in its tariff sheets the charges for providing conveniences such as online bookings or printing of tickets, if it is levied by them.
This was one of the issues that was raised at a meeting that the newly appointed Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Prashant Sukul, had with Chief Executive Officers and senior officials of the domestic airlines here on Friday.
Payment of salaries
Airlines were also asked to ensure timely payment of salaries to their staff. At least two airlines — Air India and Kingfisher Airlines — have defaulted in payment of salaries to their staff. Sections of Kingfisher Airlines’ pilots recently struck work to protest against the non-payment of five months back-wages. Similarly, employees of Air India are owed at least two months back-wages.
Safety standards
The airlines were also asked to strictly adhere to the prescribed safety standards.
Briefing newspersons after the meeting, Mr Sukul said that the airlines were asked to adhere to their flight schedules which had been approved by the DGCA. “By and large, almost all airlines are following the schedule approved by the DGCA. There are always some cancellations but it is nothing alarming,” he said.
The airlines were also asked to keep a close watch on safety and security and if there were any apprehensions with regard to financial stress affecting the carrier, the DGCA should be immediately informed, it was said.
The Chief Executive Officer, SpiceJet Airline, Mr Neil Mills, Executive Director, Air India, Mr Vipin Sharma, the Senior Vice-President, Kingfisher Airlines, Mr Hitesh Patel, were among the senior airline officials who attended the meeting.