Airlines to pay Rs 30,000 for abrupt flight cancellation

The State Consumer Commission has pulled up the Deccan Aviation Limited for putting a passenger to inconvenience by abruptly cancelling its Kullu-Delhi flight for four days at a stretch and directed the airlines to pay Rs 30,000 compensation to him.    

"The airlines-service provider is supposed to keep the flights in perfect order and not to put the passengers in unnecessary inconvenience and mental stress by keeping them waiting or sending them back who might be having some urgent business engagements or assignments," the Commission said.     
 

"All such acts amount to deficiency in service and render the service provider (aviation company) liable to compensate the consumer adequately and reasonably in terms of the observations of the Supreme Court," Commission President Justice J D Kapoor said, rejecting the airlines' plea that the cancellation of flight was due to bad weather.     

Anjani Malik, a resident of Haryana, suffered at the hands of the airline when he was not able to catch a flight from Kullu to Delhi in March last year and was told to wait for the next day, the exercise which lasted for four days at at a stretch.     

After the harassment, he decided to return to the Capital at his own costs. Malik then approached the District Consumer Forum, Sheikh Sarai, claiming Rs 50,000 compensation following which the airlines was asked to pay Rs 30,000.     

"In the instant case, Malik purchased tickets in February 28, 2007 and they had to remain in Kullu upto March 4 and therefore faced inconvenience and had to incur expenditure on boarding and lodging," Justice Kapoor said.