Airlines fined for deficiency

Kolkata: The Court of the Calcutta District Forum, Unit-I ordered Air India Ltd and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to pay compensations of Rs 8,000 and Rs 16,000 to Mr Subhabrata Biswas and Ms Anjana Mukherjee, respectively.
Air India failed to accommodate Mr Biswas in a connecting flight despite booking his seat. He was scheduled to travel by Air India flight A1-123 from Kolkata to London and then board a connecting flight, A1-101, from London to New York.
With A1-123 falling behind schedule due to fog, Mr Biswas was advised to travel to Chicago instead of London by A1-123 and take the American Airlines flight AA 876 N, the next day. The latter was to take him to Boston.
When Mr Biswas approached the American Airlines flight, he was denied accommodation as he did not possess a ticket, though a seat had been booked in his name.
Left without an alternative, Mr Biswas availed the Greyhound bus service for Boston, reaching his destination 48 hours behind schedule.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was held responsible for loss and damage of Ms Anjana Mukherjee’s luggage during travel. Ms Mukherjee, after reaching Mumbai, found her luggage ripped open, with some items missing.
The consumer court directed the airlines to pay Rs 10,000 for damage of luggage, Rs 5,000 as compensation and Rs 1,000 as litigation charges.
17/05/07 The Statesman

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Categories: Air India May 2007, Foreign May 2007