Executive Summary:
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3197, answered on August 7, 2025, addressing air passenger safety, economic impacts of airport privatization, and passenger grievance redressal. It outlines measures taken by the Ministry of Civil Aviation through the DGCA, AAI and airline/airport operators to enhance safety, leverage private sector investment, and improve service quality. The document details existing regulatory frameworks and mechanisms for compliance and accountability.
Key Points / Main Content:
Air Passenger Safety and Regulatory Compliance:
* DGCA employs a structured surveillance and audit framework, including planned and unplanned surveillance of aircraft and organizations through audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections.
* DGCA continuously updates its surveillance methodology based on risk assessment, operator and fleet performance, and global best practices from EASA and FAA.
* DGCA mandates that all licensed airports develop and establish Aerodrome Emergency Plans, tested and updated periodically.
Economic Impact of Airport Privatization:
* Airports are recognized as nuclei of economic activities with a multiplier effect on the economy.
* ICAO study indicates air connectivity has an economic multiplier of 3.25 and an employment multiplier of 6.1.
* AAI leases out airports to improve management, leverage private sector efficiency and investment, benefiting states and passengers through enhanced infrastructure.
* Additional investments by PPP partners increase economic activity and job creation. Revenue received by AAI is reinvested in airport infrastructure development nationwide.
Passenger Grievance Redressal Mechanisms:
* Airline/airport operators must appoint a Nodal Officer and Appellate Authority to settle passenger grievances promptly.
* Contact details of these officers must be conspicuously displayed on websites and at key airport areas.
* Airlines/airport operators must acknowledge and redress passenger grievances immediately.
* Passengers can register grievances through the "AirSewa" web portal and mobile application.
Impact Analysis:
DGCA:
*Impact:* Must maintain and update surveillance and audit frameworks, incorporate global best practices, and ensure compliance with Aerodrome Emergency Plan requirements.
*Action Required:* Continuously review and update surveillance methodology, enforce Aerodrome Emergency Plan implementation and updates.
Airports Authority of India (AAI):
*Impact:* Must manage the leasing of airports effectively to promote private sector investment and reinvest revenue into airport infrastructure.
*Action Required:* Continue to lease airports for better management and utilize revenue from leased airports for infrastructure development.
Airline/Airport Operators:
*Impact:* Required to adhere to safety regulations, appoint grievance officers, and ensure timely redressal of passenger complaints.
*Action Required:* Appoint and display details of Nodal Officers and Appellate Authorities, ensure immediate acknowledgement and redressal of passenger grievances, and comply with service quality standards.
Passengers:
*Impact:* Benefit from improved safety standards, enhanced airport infrastructure and facilities, and more effective grievance redressal mechanisms.
*Action Required:* Utilize the "AirSewa" portal/mobile application to register grievances if necessary.
States:
*Impact:* Benefit from increased economic activity and job creation due to airport development through PPPs.
*Action Required:* No direct action specified.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to civil aviation in India.
SMT PRATIMA MONDAL: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the unstarred question regarding air passenger safety.
Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, responsible for answering the parliamentary question.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA: The regulatory body in India responsible for civil aviation safety.
Ahmedabad: Location of a recent plane crash mentioned in the question, likely referring to an airport in Gujarat State.
European Union Aviation Safety Agency EASA: An agency of the European Union (EU) with responsibility for civil aviation safety.
Federal Aviation Administration FAA: The national aviation authority of the United States with powers to regulate all aspects of civil aviation in that country.
Airports Authority of India AAI: A statutory body responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3197
th
(To be answered on the 7 August 2025)
SAFETY OF AIR PASSENGERS
3197. SMT PRATIMA MONDAL
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the steps taken by the Government to improve air passenger safety and
regulatory compliance among domestic and foreign carriers operating in the
country, especially in the aftermath of the recent Ahmedabad plane crash;
(b) the data on the economic impact and employment generation resulting
from the disinvestment and privatization of airports including key lessons
learned and safeguards adopted for future transactions; and
(c) the measures being implemented to strengthen passenger grievance
redressal mechanisms and to ensure accountability of airlines and airport
operators with respect to service quality standards?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has a structured
surveillance and audit framework in place i.e. planned and unplanned
surveillance of organisation /aircraft, which includes regular and periodic
audits, spot checks, night surveillance and ramp inspections across all
operators, maintenance organizations.
DGCA continuously reviews and updates its surveillance methodology based
on risk assessment, operator performance, fleet performance and global best
practices such as the guidelines issued by European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
DGCA mandates requirements to develop & establish Aerodrome Emergency
Plan vide DGCA CAR Section 4, Series B, Part 1, Para 9.1 for all licensed
airports to prepare an aerodrome to cope with an emergency occurring at the
aerodrome or its vicinity. These plans are tested periodically and updated onthe basis of recommendations received as outcome of any case study or
Accident/Incident report
(b): Airports have emerged as a nucleus of economic activities and have
multiplier effect on the economy of the State. The linkage between the Civil
Aviation Sector and Economic Growth is well recognised. International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) study shows that the air connectivity has an
economic multiplier of 3.25 and employment multiplier of 6.1.
Airports of Airports Authority of India (AAI) are leased out for their better
management, utilising private sector efficiency and investment. States and
passengers are the ultimate beneficiary of enhanced airport infrastructure
and facilities created by private partner, which operate, manage and develop
the leased airport under Public Private Partnership (PPP). With the
additional investments and development in the airports by PPP partners,
there is increased economic activity, which in turn creates additional jobs.
Further, the revenue received by AAI from the leased airports is also utilised
for the development of airport infrastructure across the country.
(c): As per the prevailing regulations, airline/airport operators are required to
appoint a Nodal officer and Appellate Authority to settle the grievances of the
passengers in a time bound manner. Airline/Airport Operators are required
to conspicuously display the details of the Nodal Officers and Appellate
Authorities indicating their names, contact numbers and email addresses on
their respective websites and display them in a conspicuous manner at key
areas of the airport. Airlines/airport operators are required to ensure that the
grievances from the passengers are acknowledged immediately and redressed
at the earliest. The passengers can also register their grievance through the
"AirSewa" web-portal / mobile application.
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