With reference to the report, "SpiceJet also hikes ticket cancellation charges" (April 9), the move will cause discomfiture among domestic air travellers. IndiGo and national carrier Air India, too, raised ticket cancellation charges recently. In some cases, the cancellation charges would be equal to the air fares for short-haul journeys or even more than the discounted fares for long-haul journeys.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought explanation from the airlines for imposing these charges. The Air Passengers Association of India is planning to move the Competition Commission of India to probe a possible cartelisation angle.
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The government should take stringent action against this unfair trade practice by some airlines, else more carriers would follow suit. In all fairness, the government and/or the DGCA should ask the airlines to refund double the air fares they charge passengers when their flights are cancelled irrespective of the reasons for cancellation.
Flyers should also be compensated for flight delays. In such cases, airlines are known to cite technical snag as the reason for the delay, but they should pay the price for it.
S K Gupta, New Delhi
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