Airlines Face Stiff Fines for Offloading Fliers

New Delhi: Soon, airlines may have to pay dearly for forcibly barring passengers who have reported on time from boarding aircraft.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has recommended a steep compensation ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 12,000 for such passengers. The DGCA has issued a draft of the civil aviation requirement (CAR) on “facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to delay, denied boarding and cancellation’’. It seeks to ensure that passengers are not treated shabbily, officials said.
According to CAR, in case of overbooking, airlines should first look for passengers who are willing to take a later flight. Such passengers will have to be offered two options—a refund and a free ticket for a later flight or alternative mode of transport.
However, forcible denial of boarding to passengers who want to take the flight for which they have a confirmed ticket will mean a hefty compensation along with a refund. The DGCA draft proposes three slabs of compensation—Rs 5,000 for flights up to 1,500 km, Rs 8,000 for domestic or international flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, and Rs 12,000 for international flights beyond 3,500 km.
04/06/08 Times of India/Daijiworld.com

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jun 2008