DELHI: Directorate General of Civil Aviation or DGCA issued a circular on Monday stating that “the middle seat of the flight of all the airlines should be left vacant, If not the passengers should be provided with additional protective equipment like wrap around gown.”
As social distancing is a crucial weapon on the fight against the coronavirus. DGCA issued new guidelines that will come into effect starting June 3.
“The Flights must keep the middle seat vacant as much as possible, but if the flight is running overloaded then the passengers must be provided with the wrap on gown” DGCA said.
While hearing a petition on whether to keep middle seats in flights vacant or not, the Supreme Court on May 25 had said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was free to alter its norms in the interest of public health and safety of passengers “rather than of commercial considerations.”
The DGCA has also urged the airline companies to continue with the restriction on food and beverage facilities aboard flight except in conditions that will arise out of health emergencies.
Even Prime minister Narendra Modi on ‘man ki baat’ this Sunday advised to the people that we have paid so much of our work in this fight against coronavirus, and this is not the time to let our guards down.
“We must not let this fight weaken. Becoming careless or lackadaisical cannot be an option. The fight against coronavirus is still equally serious. You, your family, may still face grave danger from coronavirus,” Prime minister cautioned.
India resumed its domestic passenger flights from May 25 after a gap of two months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown.