Aviation industry's new financial headache - Hoax Bomb Threats

Imagine being thrilled to start a long-awaited vacation aboard a plane, only to hear the captain say that there would be an abrupt diversion because of a bomb threat. Not only is the ensuing uncertainty and commotion upsetting for travelers, but it's also starting to cost airlines a lot of money. indian airlines have seen many hoaxes in the last few days, which have resulted in flight delays diversions, and increased operating expenses. What some may have thought of as a playful practical joke is rapidly becoming a financial nightmare for a sector already struggling with exorbitant costs during its biggest travel season.

The most recent is a Frankfurt to mumbai Vistara flight. An airline representative stated that the aircraft was successfully landed at the Chhatrapati shivaji Maharaj international Airport and that it was then transferred to an isolation bay for inspection after receiving a security threat on social media on Wednesday.

Over ten bomb hoaxes have affected indian airlines in the last three days, resulting in flight cancellations, delays, and diversions. Even though these warnings frequently prove to be false alarms, airlines are suffering actual financial losses as a result of them, as they already have to contend with increased costs during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.

"Although the precise number is unknown at this time, airlines are dealing with significant expenses for personnel, andtravelers, and maintaining goodwill. BusinessToday quoted an industry insider to say, "We are not in a good position to manage these diversions, especially with the festive season ramping up occupancy."

Airlines must act quickly in the event of a bomb threat, which includes rerouting flights, carrying out security inspections, and guaranteeing the safety of both crew and passengers. These actions have hefty price tags. airlines must pay additional costs for things like crew overtime, fuel for diversions, and hotel stays for stranded customers.

As an illustration, consider the air india aircraft from mumbai to New York that was forced to divert to delhi because of a bomb threat. The airline reportedly paid almost Rs 24 million for fuel alone during the detour, and an additional Rs 12 lakh for passenger accommodations in delhi, according to a report on CNBC TV18. Other airlines have had similar situations, which have resulted in increasing losses.

Delays in flights exacerbate the issue further. In addition to raising fuel expenses, mid-air rerouting and departure rescheduling cause schedule disruptions for the crew. Due to duty restrictions, airlines may have to schedule overnight stays for passengers, reserve additional landing slots, and bring in new crew members. It becomes expensive to handle bomb threats because of all of this.

It's not just airlines that are impacted. Authorities conducting security checks and investigations also cause havoc with airport operations. There may be a cascading effect from delays that affect other aircraft and result in more disruptions.

The issue is being aggressively addressed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), in collaboration with other organizations such as the Ministry of home Affairs (MHA) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). To evaluate the threats and suggest preventative actions to stop future hoaxes, a Bomb Threat Assessment Committee has been established.