HC permits airlines to allow passengers on middle seats

Mumbai: 16.06.2020

The Bombay high court on Monday permitted all flightoperatorsto allow passengers to occupy middle seats in flights, but said they should strictly comply with guidelines of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

A division bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and S P Tavade refused to accept the contentions raised in a petition filed by Air India pilot Deven Kanani, who said the middle seats of all international and domesticflightsshouldbekept vacant to preventthespreadof coronavirus. “We are of the prima facie view that the safety and health of passengers on board the aircraftqua (with regardto) Covid-19 virus is adequately taken careof even if the middle seat of the aircraft is not kept vacant on account of passenger load and seat capacity, the courtsaid.Thecourt permitted air carriersto allow passengers to occupy the middle seat in flights, but said they should strictly comply with DGCA's guidelines on measures to be taken to prevent spread of the coronavirus.

The DGCA in its May 31circular said flight operators should try to keep the middle seat vacant but if it has been booked, then the passenger shall be provided with a wraparound gown in addition to the mask and face shield. If possible, passengersfrom onefamily or those travelling in one group could be allotted seats along with the middle seat, it said in the circular. The court in its order said it has not seen any material to show wrongdoing on partof theAir India andAir India Express or violating circulars issued by the DGCA on March 23 and endangering the lives of passengers travelling back to India from abroad in the Vande Bharat flights. The bench noted that all precautionary measures, asstipulated with regard to passengers and the crew, are complied with by all flight operators. TNN