Air India has been slapped with a 15-day ban on carrying dangerous goods in and out of Delhi Airport by the DGCA. The decision came after the airline failed to pass an audit assessing its compliance with ICAO rules. The ban is set to last from April 7th to April 23rd.
Dangerous territory
According to the Times of India, Air India has had its license to carry dangerous goods suspended for 15 days following a DGCA inspection of its handling facilities at Delhi Airport. Airlines require authorization to carry certain products, ranging from flammable goods to radioactive materials in their cargo holds.
Sources say that Air India's hub did not have storage space to separate dangerous and radioactive materials, have trained staff to deal with non-dangerous goods and lacked an emergency management system for the facility. These are only some of the flaws that led to the carrier's license suspension.
In a statement, an AI spokesperson said,
"A routine DGCA audit was carried out for various departments at Delhi. The regulator has some observations regarding our domestic cargo unit at Delhi. The same is being complied with."
ICAO rules
When it comes to flying harmful goods, aviation regulators such as the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) follow the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) guidelines. This ensures that airlines, sending and receiving airports are all on the same page when it comes to handling these potentially sensitive or deadly goods.
Passengers may have seen a hint of these rules in action when cabin crews make announcements regarding lithium-ion batteries onboard aircraft. Powerbanks and other batteries must be carried in handbags to prevent them from potentially causing a fire in the cargo hold. In case of any incidents onboard, flights are equipped with secure bags to seal the battery and put out any fire or smoking.
Air India's turnaround plan
Air India now has 15 days, from April 7th to 23rd, to correct the mistakes found in the audit and apply for its suspension to be lifted. The airline will likely fix its issues, given how such a ban could impact the lucrative cargo shipments on its flights.
The flag carrier is also in the middle of an ambitious 100-day turnaround plan that began after its acquisition by the Tata Group in January. The loss-making airline has long struggled to invest in world-class facilities, a change the Tatas hope to make soon. Until then, fixing pressing issues such as this one will be the priority.
More broadly, Tata Air India is also mulling an order for 30 new widebody aircraft, possibly the A350 as well. For now, keep an eye out for the airline's broadening horizons. Discover more aviation news here.
What do you think about Air India's current trajectory? Let us know in the comments!