Passengers body to go to court against new guidelines

Chennai-based air passengers body, Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) is contemplating moving to court against the new guidelines on the compensation to passengers in case of flight delays/cancellations or denied boarding, on the ground that 'they remain pro-airlines', an Association official said.

The new guidelines, formulated by the civil aviation regulator would be effective from August 15 this year.

"The guidelines are lop-sided and favour only the airline operators. We plan to challenge these guidelines in the court next week," APAI President Sudhakar Reddy told PTI over phone from Chennai.

The rules have been designed in such a manner that the airlines would not be paying anything to a passenger at the end, Reddy alleged.

According to the new rules, passengers will be entitled to get a compensation of Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 if their flights are delayed from two hours to four hours.

However, airlines will not be liable to pay the compensation if the delay or cancellation takes place due to reasons beyond their control.

Strike, labour problems and ATC-related delays are some of these factors.

Airlines are also exempted from paying compensation in case of political instability, natural disaster, civil war, insurrection or riot, flood, explosion, government regulation or order affecting the aircraft, meteorological conditions and security risks.

Reddy lamented that the DGCA did not take into consideration any of the suggestions made by the Association during the drafting of the new rules.

"We had put quite a few suggestions to the DGCA. Unfortunately, it has completely side-stepped all such suggestions," Reddy said.

"Airlines are not supposed to pay compensation to a passenger in case of a delay on the part of the ATC. Now who will judge that the delay is on the part of the airline or ATC," he said.

As a matter of fact, the passenger should be compensated for any delay whatsoever, he said, adding, "If the delay is on part of the the ATC, then the money should be recovered from the ATC."

Reddy demanded that the airline should make mandatory for the passengers to provide all correct details including the complete address, mobile numbers and e-mail IDs.