Now Reading: Foreign airlines rush for DGCA nod to carry dangerous goods to India
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Foreign airlines rush for DGCA nod to carry dangerous goods to India
Foreign airlines are scrambling to get DGCA approval to transport dangerous goods to and from India after a new regulation took effect last week. The rule, notified in February and followed by…
Foreign airlines are scrambling to get DGCA approval to transport dangerous goods to and from India after a new regulation took effect last week. The rule, notified in February and followed by a DGCA civil aviation requirement in July, makes it compulsory for foreign carriers to seek approval for carrying items such as mobile phones, lithium batteries, and other classified dangerous goods including explosives, gases, and corrosives.
Cathay Cargo, Etihad, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa Cargo, and Singapore Airlines have secured approvals, but some airlines are still completing paperwork and have placed an embargo on such shipments. An international logistics firm warned customers last Thursday that some airlines may not accept dangerous goods, potentially delaying shipments. However, an executive in the mobile manufacturing industry said exports have not been affected.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The DGCA's push for prior approval stems from past incidents of misdeclared and mishandled dangerous goods, where accountability was hard to fix. The rule shifts responsibility to a designated person at each airline. While some carriers say the compliance window is tight, a draft was circulated in June last year and final rules came in February, giving over a year of notice. The key test will be whether the remaining airlines complete paperwork before cargo backlogs build, especially ahead of the festive season when electronics shipments peak.
The next signal to watch is how many foreign airlines submit compliance documents in the coming weeks, and whether the DGCA extends the deadline for stragglers.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
