KalingaTV News Network
New Delhi: Good news for flyers! The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday released a new passenger charter which proposed the passengers should be able to avail full refunds and additional compensation for flight delays and cancellations.
The Ministry also proposed several other measures in the charter to make life easier for the domestic flyers.
The new air passenger charter seeks to amend current norms for charges incurred by travellers on cancellations and rescheduling of air travel, among other things. However, the new compensation structure will apply only if it is found that the flight delay or cancellation was caused by the airline concerned.
While informing about the development, Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation said, “If a flight is cancelled and it is the airlines’ fault, then the passenger has to be compensated or ticket has to be refunded. The passenger will be compensated in various ways.”
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has sought public comments on the draft charter within a month after which the new norms are expected to be notified by July 15.
As per the proposal, the passengers will get full refunds, additional compensation and more in case an airline is found to be at fault for the delay or flight cancellation.
Apart from refund due to delay or flight cancellation, the passenger charter also asks domestic and international airlines to offer internet services and mobile services on-board an aircraft in Indian airspace. However, they have to take the following security measures:
- Internet services can be provided from the moment a plane takes off and personal electronic devices (PED) have to be put on flight mode.
- Mobile services can be allowed only when an aircraft is over an altitude of 3,000 metres.
Ms Kalinga