The recent roof collapse incident at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1 has led to a temporary shutdown of operations, leaving many passengers stranded. In an effort to mitigate the impact on travelers, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has instructed airlines to refrain from surging airfares for flights to and from the national capital. As a result, passengers who were scheduled to travel out of Delhi on Friday morning but were unable to do so due to the temporary shutdown will receive a full refund. The refund process will be managed through a dedicated 24/7 War Room established by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, which aims to process all refunds within a stipulated timeframe of 7 days.
Additionally, the War Room will provide alternative travel route tickets to affected passengers as per availability. This move aims to minimize the inconvenience caused to passengers and ensure that they can travel to their intended destinations as soon as possible. The Ministry has also convened a high-level review meeting to discuss the incident and the measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1
Structural Engineers from IIT Delhi have been asked to assess the incident and provide their initial findings, which will guide further examination. Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will also examine the structural integrity of Jabalpur airport, which will help identify potential issues and take corrective action.
As a precautionary measure, the AAI has been directed to issue a circular to all minor and major airports, instructing them to conduct a thorough inspection of their terminals to assess their structural strength. The inspections must be completed within the next 2-5 days, and the reports must be submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The goal is to ensure that all airports in the country are safe and airworthy, and that passengers can travel with confidence.
