Domestic Airlines Oppose DGCA's Proposal to Give Compensation to Passengers! Threatens to Rise Air Tickets
DGCA has also proposed airlines to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000 for ‘forced’ denied boarding to passengers.
New Delhi, April 19: Indian carriers may need to pay stranded passengers compensation of up to Rs 20,000 (depending upon the number of hours) if they miss connecting flights due to airline cancellations or delays in their initial leg of the journey. This was proposed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in a charter that lists the rights and responsibilities of air travellers. Reportedly, domestic airlines have made their displeasure evident and said increasing the delay/cancellation compensation is unfair because these issues are not always their fault. Airlines have complained that airfares in India is already one of the lowest globally and increasing the amount of delay/cancellation means that airlines will have to now bear the brunt of it.
As per reports, GoAir, IndiGo, Jet Airways and Spice Jet have recommended maintaining the existing norms – of no provision for compensation. On the other hand, Vistara has sought a distinction in compensation for both international and domestic travel. Times of India report, states that the enforcement of will lead to a hike in air fares as they will be forced to "pass on the cost" to flyers, reported the Times of India.
According to a report on Economic Times, DGCA has also proposed airlines to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000 for ‘forced’ denied boarding to passengers. A passenger is not permitted to board by an airline when a flight is overbooked. Some of the other proposals in the charter are-an increase in compensation for unnatural death on domestic flights and also an increase in compensation in case of delay, loss of baggage. On tarmac delays beyond 120 minutes, the DGCA has also proposed that passengers be allowed to deplane.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 19, 2018 12:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).