 |
|
Fasaad ki jad: The speed of vehicles going towards the airport is reduced by one-fourth due to this choked junction. PIC/Rane Ashish |
While the Directorate General of Civil Aviation regulations state that airlines are supposed to close doors 30 minutes prior to departure, airlines have been making exceptions over the past few weeks and allow passengers in up to 15 minutes before departure. "We cannot blame the passengers. The traffic situation outside the airport is bad," an airport manager at terminal IâB said.
However, none of the airlines were willing to concede to late passengers, but accepted that they had indeed increased. "Passengers turning up late is increasingly becoming common due to the traffic situation outside," said a Kingfisher Airways spokesperson.
Airport staff of Jet Airways added that passengers have been walking in tense and sweating, fearing the gates would be shut. "We have been sending out SMS alerts and/or making calls to passengers, asking them to leave home early. This is done especially during the rains," a Jet spokesperson said.
Said S L Dhingra, a retired IIT Bombay professor and a transportation expert, who had missed a flight, "The speed of the vehicle is reduced by one-fourth."
"Passengers calling up airport services and asking for extra time to report is common," said a Jet Airways official. But given the strict rules, there is no scope for a delay. "For once, passengers are not blaming the airlines, but the state government," said a SpiceJet ground staff.
An Air India security official revealed it was a commonplace to have passengers running in to catch their flight. "We have at least four passengers who we squeeze in, close to door-closing time," the official said.
