PACR Activated by the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry

Government launches Passenger Assistance Control Room to support travellers amid West Asia flight suspensions and rising geopolitical tensions.

India’s aviation authorities have initiated swift measures to assist passengers stranded and inconvenienced in the aftermath of the recent disturbances in West Asia. With the US and Israel attacking Iran through missile strikes and flights being suspended in the region, the Government has announced the activation of its Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) to alleviate passengers’ concerns and reduce the burden they face in these turbulent times. This step reassures travellers who are at the receiving end of an uncertain geopolitical climate, which has caused airlines to cancel and reschedule several flights.

The situation in West Asia and the resulting security developments have led to several Indian and international carriers, both, altering its charter of operations. While Air India has announced suspension of its services to particular destinations that are among the worst affected, IndiGo has coped with the crisis by closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the Middle East. Akasa Air has cancelled all flights to and fro Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait and Riyadh until March 2. Air India Express, on the other hand, has cancelled about 110 flights across its network.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), “Helpline numbers provided by the Indian Embassies were also actively shared with passengers through the PACR to enable necessary coordination.” In a post on X (formerly twitter), The MoCA claimed to have coordinated with airlines and airport operators to resolve 411 passenger grievances. In addition to providing timely support, it was on the lookout for concerns by actively monitoring social media platforms and the AirSewa portal to widen its reach to as many affected as possible.