Times of India

New Delhi, Jun 4: 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.

Refund, free flight likely in case of delay

The DGCA’s civil aviation requirement (CAR) draft has not only suggested big fines for airlines that treat passengers shabbily, but also proposes that if a flight is delayed by more than five hours, the airline will have to refund tickets and offer a free flight to the destination. 

DGCA has invited comments from the public and other stakeholders before it finalizes the draft. 

Acknowledging the spate of problems faced by passengers in the recent past, CAR says, “With the introduction of a large number of air operators and the ensuing competition among them to provide cheaper services, it’s likely that the interest of the fare-paying passenger is ignored and he is denied certain basic rights. A number of complaints has been received by the ministry of civil aviation and the DGCA from passengers over the treatment meted out to them by airlines. CAR is aimed at providing regulations in the interest of travelling passengers and the minimum facilities which must be provided to them.’’ 

CAR says the proposals will apply not only to passengers of scheduled flights but also to those travelling by non-scheduled ones, including charters and package tours. Asked if airlines would be able to pay such hefty compensations at a time when they are facing acute financial problems, a senior official said, “We have invited suggestions on this move. The number of complaints from the public is very high