Minister of Civil Aviation assesses safety issues with airport and airlines officials

New -Delhi, June 19 (IANS). Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu conducted a major overview of safety, passenger facilities and airlines on Thursday. The security review was made at a time when the Air India flight to London at the Ahmedabad airport crashed shortly after the flight. The minister held a meeting with Air India chairman and managing director Campbell Wilson on important issues such as maintaining transparent and accountable communication with the public, as well as the safety and ease of passengers. It was noted at the meeting that Air India is facing a decline in aircraft availability due to the situation of emerging conflict in the Middle East, a greater safety test and flying at night in Europe, thereby temporarily reducing the operational and restructuring flights. They will also announce these changes by the media. During this time, the affected passengers will again be provided for the book facility to be given again or given the full refund. Air India was asked to strengthen its grassroots coordination at airports, improve passengers communications about cancellation/delay and ensure that customer service teams are sensitive and can handle the growing concern of passengers with sympathy and clarity. The Union Minister also held a meeting with Senior Management of Spice Jet, Indigo and Akasa on June 18 and 19, in which the performance of fleet, safety inspection, passenger experience and ease is reviewed. It was also decided that the practice of periodic review with airlines on operational affairs would be made institutional for better monitoring and coordination. Naidu also mentioned a detailed video conference with all airport directors across the country to review the grassroots preparation and passenger aid mechanisms, in view of the reasons such as investigation into the accident, change in weather and the closure of certain air areas due to geopolitical tension. The minister issued instructions to keep strong contact with airlines to immediately ensure the problems of passengers and to ensure on -site solutions. The Union Minister asked officials to ensure food, drinking water and sufficient seating facilities at the terminal during the delay or congestion during the flight. In addition, instructions were issued to the airport directors to strengthen the management of game risks, including the stop of birds and stray animals, to keep the airport environment safe and preserved. In addition, the first officer Clive Kunder, who died in the Ahmedabad aircraft accident, gave a post on social media platform X, saying that with a heavy heart, we gave a final farewell of a promising young aviation, a valuable colleague and a very dear member of the Air India family, Clive Kundar. The Tata group and senior leaders of Air India stood with his family, friends and loved ones in his prayer and funeral service. We express our deeply condolences to Clive’s family. We are with you at this moment of this deep loss. -Ians abs/