Pvt airlines told to give special privileges to MPs

Private airlines, including the no-frill ones, have been directed by the government to ensure that special privileges, like faster security clearances and lounge access, are given to MPs in line with what Air India has been providing so far.

While the protocol to accord such services to MPs have been in existence for over three years now, aviation regulator DGCA, in a fresh directive to all airlines, has pointed out that the airports and airlines were "not adhering to the guidelines on protocol norms and courtesy to be extended to Members of Parliament."

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Noting that a 2007 circular of Civil Aviation Ministry providing the guidelines and instructions in this regard, had only listed Air India, DGCA chief Prabhat Kumar also advised the ministry "to review the order on protocol norms and courtesy for the Members of Parliament and include the names of other airlines companies including LCC (low-cost carriers)".

The DGCA directive came after Parliament's 'Committee on Violation of Protocol Norms and Contemptuous Behaviour of government officers with member(s) of Lok Sabha', which is part of the Privileges Committee, had raised the issue with the ministry late last year.

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The committee had said that "airports and airlines are not adhering to the guidelines on protocol norms and courtesy to be extended to the members of Parliament."

Barring Air India which has been extending such courtesies to the MPs so far, the other airlines which have been instructed are Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir.

The protocol, which is "to be followed by all concerned, including private airports and airlines", includes reserved lounge facilities, complimentary tea, coffee or water, free access in the terminal building and designation of one officer of airport as Protocol Officer to extend all facilities and courtesies to MPs, according to reply to a Lok Sabha question in August last year.