Late Flight? Departure Gate Exit Now Allowed!

New rules say if your flight is late, you can get off through the departure gates.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) made new rules starting March 30. This is because flights are often late, and airports get too crowded. Passengers sometimes have to wait on planes for a long time after getting on. The new rules should help them.

BCAS's Director General, Zulfiquar Hasan, said the rules aim to let passengers get off through the departure gates if there's a long delay or an emergency after boarding.

Airport managers need to set up things like security checks to make these rules work. Airlines and security people will decide together if passengers can get off.

BCAS has been working to make airports less crowded and smoother. They're also planning to have special security lanes to help passengers.

They're also planning to have full-body scanners at Bangalore airport starting this month. They'll put them in other airports too, if they have more than 5 million passengers a year.

BCAS fined IndiGo and Mumbai airport operator MIAL for a problem in January where passengers had to eat on the airport runway.

In February, BCAS told seven airlines to make sure passengers get their luggage quickly when they land.

These rules are all meant to make things easier for passengers, especially if their flight is late. Airport managers will set up what's needed, and airlines and security people will decide if passengers can get off through the departure gates.