Mumbai:
Check-in counters in big cities will now close 40 minutes before departure, as the Air Traffic Control cracks the whip on flights in Mumbai that take-off late, almost everyday, delaying others.
The ripple effect of this decision has now been felt in other metros, which will also have to tow the line and shut counters early.
Airlines have started falling in line, also because this Director General of Civil Aviation circular has added pressure.
A circular which was issued in October 2009 has now come into effect, and it gives the ATC the right to push back flights that have missed their departure time to the back of the take-off queue.
This means that an aircraft that delays its departure may be left waiting for up to an hour.
Generally, airlines routinely blame ATC congestion for delays. Now, the ATC has found a whip to hit back.
Ever since the rule has come into effect, on-time performance of flights out of Mumbai has become better than ever before. (
Read: Kingfisher's new check-in time for metros)