Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha has announced new compensation and cancellation rules for the airlines. According to reports, the Minister has stated that the ministry has proposed a 24 hours lock-in period from cancellation charges on flight tickets.
Compensation guidelines for airlines revised. Airlines to be held accountable for delays and cancellation.
MoS Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha gives us details on NDA’s massive pro-passenger reform. pic.twitter.com/AzhfSXh7a8— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) May 22, 2018
According to reports, the ministry has released the first draft of the passengers charter and the new rules will come into effect after being approved by the union cabinet. According to the charter, the airline will have to compensate passengers if a flight is delayed due to the airline’s fault. The passengers will be eligible for a full refund if an airline cancels a flight or delays it for more than 4 hours. The charter also addresses issues regarding loss and damage of baggage and facilities for persons with disabilities.
Interests of our passengers are at the core of our heart. Today we’ve unveiled 1st ever ‘Passenger Charter of Rights’ draft, defining & augmenting your rights, entitlements & compensation during air travel. Modi Govt is committed to your delightful & hassle-free travel. Always.
— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) May 22, 2018
The charter also states that a passenger will be eligible for a full refund if he cancels a flight ticket within 24 hours of booking it. It states that if a passenger is informed about the cancellation of a flight less than 2 weeks before and up to 24 hours of the scheduled departure time, the passenger must be provided with an alternate flight within 2 hours of the scheduled time or refunded fully.
The cancellation fee can be in no condition, more than the base fare. The charter also reportedly specifies that if a passenger misses a flight due to a delay of over 3 hours, the compensation would be Rs 5000. It would Rs 10,000 for a 4 to 12 hours delay and for delays more than 12 hours, it would be Rs 20,000
Jayant Sinha also reportedly announced that both domestic and international flights operating in India will now be allowed to offer internet services to passengers after obtaining a licence from the ministry.
