The Lok Sabha passed the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024 on Friday, replacing the 90-year-old Aircraft Act to modernise aviation regulations, promote ease of business, enhance domestic production, and ensure balanced passenger-airline interests. The Bill also supports self-reliance in aircraft manufacturing and improves regional connectivity.

The four airports are Vijayapura, Hubballi, Belagavi and Shivamogga.

The collapse, which occurred around 5 am on Friday, led to the immediate closure and evacuation of Terminal 1, with all flight operations being redirected to Terminals 2 and 3.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced on Friday that an investigation has been launched into the canopy collapse incident at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1. Heavy rain caused a portion of the canopy to collapse early Friday morning, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to several others.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), has undertaken a major initiative to enhance the baggage delivery system at six major airports in India: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.

Amidst this chaos, Vistara has faced significant backlash from passengers on social media due to operational challenges, with flights being cancelled or delayed over the past week. Passengers have reported their grievances, including urgent situations such as a passenger, who pleaded for help after Vistara cancelled his flight from Ranchi to Delhi while his grandfather was on his deathbed. The airline has apologized for the disruptions and assured efforts to stabilize the situation.

Most of the cancellations are within the domestic network and have been planned ahead to lessen passenger disruption. “All affected passengers have been accommodated on other flights as needed”, the spokesperson added.

Recent violence and turmoil in Manipur and its ramifications in the conduct of a peaceful election were also addressed, with the EC urging for swift action to assist internally displaced persons and ensure their participation in the electoral process, the poll panel said.

In recent years, the expansion of airports, notably under the regional air connectivity scheme, has coincided with a notable surge in domestic air traffic.

Recognizing the surge in domestic air traffic, which now sees approximately 3,500 flights departing daily, Hasan acknowledged that airport congestion is undesirable. BCAS has developed optimal standards and tools to address this issue, including the implementation of smart security lanes to enhance passenger experience.

An IT Initiative of the Ministry of Civil Aviation using biometric verification technology, DigiYatra provides a seamless and hassle-free movement of passengers at airport entry gates