Airlines must pay flyers for delays, denying boarding pass

New Delhi: Wrongly blocking passengers with confirmed tickets who reach on time from boarding will now cost airlines dear, as per new rules to be imposed shortly by the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation. With overbooking becoming rampant to make up for last-minute no shows, the government has finalised cash penalties to clamp down on this practice. Airlines will first seek volunteers in case of overbooking and offer them alternate flights.
But if someone is unwillingly and forcibly denied boarding, then the airline will have to offer him or her up to Rs 4,000 as compensation (see box) apart from providing the option of a full refund or another flight. Passengers who opt for another flight will get half the compensation amount.
More importantly, the new rules being finalised by the DGCA will also make it mandatory for airlines -- both budget and full service -- to provide refreshments when a flight is delayed for up to five hours. If the delay is beyond that, then passengers will get the option of a full refund or alternate flight. Also airlines will have to offer overnight hotel accommodation if required when a cancelled or delayed flight leaves passengers stranded.
However, airlines will not have to cough up cash penalty if the delay or cancellation is caused by "extraordinary circumstances" beyond their control like bad weather, security reasons or pilots going on strike.
17/11/09 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Nov 2009, Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2009