Malaysian Airlines to pay Rs 30K to doctor for flight delay

A bench of New Delhi district consumer forum directed the international airlines to pay damages to the doctor for causing him monetary loss as he had to reschedule his journey to Auckland by incurring extra expenditure.

"Considering all the circumstances, and reply of the airlines offering part compensation, we award Rs 20,000 to the complainant for monetary loss by extra expenditure and allow Rs 10,000 as compensation including litigation expenses," a bench of its president C K Chaturvedi and Member S R Chaudhary said.

The bench passed its order on a complaint by Nishant Nair, resident of Vasant Kunj, that his return flight from here to Auckland was scheduled for departure on the night of January 6, 2010 but it took off after a delay of 21 hours on January 7, 2010 and he had to travel to his workplace at night due to lack of decent facilities on airport for overnight boarding.

Nair said due to the delay, he had to reschedule his journey from Melbourne to Auckland by spending Rs 17,050 and faced harassment and inconvenience.

The airlines was declared exparte as it did not appear before the forum despite being served notices.

The airlines, however, had replied to the legal notice earlier sent by the complainant and said that delay was due to unfavourable weather in January at the airport and partly due to crew members' inadequate rest.

"Airlines cannot be blamed for major part of such delays. However, we hold airlines for loss to Nair for re-schedule of his journey to home, when he reached on January 10, a day behind schedule," the bench said.