On Saturday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory to airlines, urging them to ensure effective communication with passengers and adequate in-flight catering, as international flights are experiencing longer durations due to the closure of Pakistani airspace.

The restriction, which bars Indian airlines from using Pakistan's airspace, has particularly affected flights departing from northern cities like Delhi, leading to extended travel times.

In response, the DGCA outlined specific passenger service measures in its advisory, addressing the impact of airspace restrictions on flight operations. The advisory emphasizes five key areas: pre-flight communication, in-flight comfort and catering, medical readiness and use of alternate airports, customer service responsiveness, and internal coordination among departments.

The aviation regulator noted that the recent international airspace closures and overflight restrictions have disrupted airline schedules, resulting in rerouted flight paths, longer-than-expected travel times, and, in some cases, technical stops for operational or refueling needs.