The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has directed Tata-owned Air India (AI) to pay compensation of ?2 lakh to four passengers due to a flight delay in 2003. The post Air India Fined 2 Lakh for A Flight...
DELHI- The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has directed Tata-owned Air India (AI) to pay compensation of ?2 lakh to four passengers due to a flight delay in 2003.
The commission ruled that the airline breached its obligations in cancellations or significant delays, as it failed to deliver necessary services, including hospitality, food, accommodation, and transportation, per established protocols.
Photo: Aerospotters
Air India Ordered to Pay 2 Lakh
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) emphasized that airlines have a responsibility to care for stranded passengers, particularly when they miss connecting flights, especially if those connections are with the same carrier, as in the current case.
In its December 6 order, the commission stated that in situations of flight cancellations or significant delays, passengers are entitled to essential services such as hospitality, food, accommodation, and transport, following established airline protocols.
Finding Air India culpable for not meeting these obligations, the commission increased the compensation to Rs. 1.75 lakhs (for all four complainants combined). It awarded litigation costs of Rs. 25,000 to be paid by Air India to the complainants.
Photo: By Md Shaifuzzaman Ayon – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=118494564
2003 Incident
On December 13, 2003, the complainants acquired four separate air tickets for a trip from Thiruvananthapuram to Chennai, Chennai to Kolkata, and then Kolkata to Dibrugarh, with plans for a return journey.
The Thiruvananthapuram-Chennai flight experienced delays, was diverted through Coimbatore, and arrived late in Chennai, leading to the complainants missing their connecting flight.
Despite the airline assuring a 6 a.m. flight from Bangalore to Kolkata, alternative arrangements were unexpectedly made at midnight, according to their allegations.
The passengers also expressed dissatisfaction with the poor quality of food provided at the accommodation arranged by the airline.
Furthermore, the connecting flight from Delhi to Dibrugarh did not reach Kolkata, resulting in an extended ordeal without adequate facilities. Eventually, the flight to Dibrugarh was canceled, causing significant distress to the complainants.
As a consequence, they arrived in Dibrugarh a day later than planned.
Despite the airline offering free tickets, the disgruntled complainants chose to file a case before the district forum.
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The post Air India Fined 2 Lakh for A Flight Delay in 2003 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.