Extremely unfair: DGCA pulls up airlines for denying boarding to flyers with confirmed ticket
India Today
Calling it “extremely unfair”, the DGCA has pulled up airlines for denying boarding to passengers who have confirmed ticket and report on time for their flights.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has pulled up airlines for denying boarding to passengers who hold confirmed tickets and report for their flights on time.
On Monday, the civil aviation regulator shot off a strongly-worded email to airline CEOs calling out this practice as "unfair."
The email, that was read by India Today Television, states, "It has come to the notice of this office that various airlines are denying boarding to passengers holding confirmed ticket on a flight, although they have presented themselves for boarding within the time specified by the airline. This practice is extremely unfair to the passengers and brings a bad name to the aviation industry."
DGCA has reiterated to airlines that compensation has to be paid to passengers who are denied boarding for no fault of theirs, as mandated in the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR). This is applicable for both scheduled and non-scheduled operators, in circumstances where the operator is guided by reasons within its control to deny boarding, and is unable to provide an alternative flight option to the passenger within one hour of the original scheduled flight.
As per CAR, compensation would be an amount equal to 200% of booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, subject to maximum of Rs 10,000, in case the airline arranges an alternate flight that is scheduled to depart within 24 hours of the booked scheduled departure.
The same would be an amount equal to 400% of booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, subject to maximum of Rs 20,000, in case the airline arranges an alternate flight that is scheduled to depart more than 24 hours after the booked scheduled departure.
Also, as per the rules, if a passenger does not opt for an alternate flight, refund of full value of ticket and compensation equal to 400% of booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, subject to maximum of Rs 20,000 will have to be paid by the airline that denied boarding in the first place.
