Can’t levy ambulift charges: HC tells pvt airlines, AAI

New Delhi: In a step towards making air travel friendly for disabled persons, the Delhi High Court today directed all private airlines using Delhi airports and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to stop levying ambulift charges.
Various private airlines and the AAI were charging disabled persons up to Rs 800 for the use of ambulift services while boarding the aircraft. A Bench comprising Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice Hima Kohli also directed airline companies and AAI to refund charges so far levied from disabled persons within a month. Today’s directions follows a query from the court addressed to AAI during the previous hearing on November 8, last year seeking explanations on why handicapped persons had to shell out Rs 800 for provision of ambulift services.
The poser came after Jet Airways submitted before the court that the amount was actually charged by the AAI, while the airline was merely a “collection agency”.
The court had also contemplated a meeting between the AAI and other private airlines, which are using the airports at Delhi, to evolve a joint funding by taking into consideration their respective market shares and size to provide ambulift services at places where the facility was not available.
16/03/07 Delhi Newsline

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Categories: Airports Mar 2007, General Aviation Mar 2007, Jet Airways Mar 2007