Air Deccan asked to compensate passengers for cancelling flights

Calcutta News.Net
Tuesday 16th September, 2008 (IANS)

A consumer court Tuesday asked Air Deccan, now part of Kingfisher Airlines, to pay Rs.150,000 in compensation to a group of passengers for cancelling flights without informing them.

Justice J.D. Kapoor of the Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission gave the ruling in three cases.

Holding the airline guilty of not coming out with a valid explanation for cancelling the flights, the commission awarded compensation to the passengers who had to face mental agony, harassment, physical discomfort and emotional suffering.

Justice Kapoor observed that whenever airlines take the plea of cancelling or re-scheduling a flight due to some technical snag or poor visibility, dense fog or bad weather, which may be beyond its control, it must prove these facts with documentary evidence.

In one case, the passenger booked a ticket through internet for travel from New Delhi to Chennai. He was issued the boarding pass and the baggage was checked in. He was informed that there were not enough passengers on board and the flight was cancelled without any alternate arrangement. The passenger has been awarded compensation of Rs.55,000.

In the second case, a man booked a ticket to travel from Bhubaneswar to New Delhi. He reached Bhubaneswar airport and was issued the boarding pass but later he was informed that the flight had been re-scheduled for some other day. No alternative arrangement was made for him. This passenger has been awarded a compensation of Rs.30,000.

In the third instance, 10 members of family booked tickets and when they reached Guwahati, the airlines staff informed them that the flight had been terminated and would not go to Bagdogra due to bad weather. The family was to attend a marriage reception on the same evening. In this case, the family was given compensation of Rs.60,000.

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