Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: Multiple flights of Indian carriers continue to get threat messages on Sunday too, with no end in sight to this menace that is disrupting schedules, bleeding airlines and inconveniencing passengers in the peak festive travel season. Airline statements have stopped giving counts as the number keeps mounting. For instance, Akasa said “some” of its flights have got threats.Many IndiGo flights including a Jeddah-Mumbai, Kozhikode-Dammam, Delhi-Istanbul, Mumbai-Istanbul, Pune to Jodhpur and Goa to Ahmedabad — got the same threats.
“We are cognisant of a situation involving (flight). The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and we are working closely with the relevant authorities and taking all necessary precautions as per the guidelines,” IndiGo statements for those flights said.
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security chief Zulfiquar Hasan had met CEOs of airlines on Saturday evening. Hasan had emphasised striking a balance between ensuring security, which he stressed is paramount, and also minimising passenger inconvenience & disruptions in this peak festive travel season.
After the meeting, Hasan had told TOI: “Indian skies are absolutely safe. The current protocol (to deal with the situation) is robust and is being strictly followed. We reassure passengers that they should fly without any fear and in fact fly even more.”
Airlines have made arrangements at airports to ensure passengers of delayed flights get refreshments and other basic necessities.
