Aviation regulator yet to implement passenger compensation policy

The aviation regulator failed to implement the policy on compensation for fliers on Thursday. This despite, a commitment to announce it.

The aviation regulator failed to implement the policy on compensation for fliers on Thursday. This despite, a commitment to announce it.

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Hindustan Times had reported that the civil aviation ministry on Wednesday had told the regulator to put up the long pending policy to protect passengers stranded at airports on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) website.

Once put up on the website, the policy will become public and fliers will know the procedure to seek compensation. However, till the time of going to press it was not uploaded. The earlier deadline for the policy was July 31.

“The DGCA chief was supposed to sign it,” said Maushumi Chakravarthy, spokesperson of the civil aviation ministry refusing to explain why it was not ready yet. DGCA chief Nasim Zaidi did not respond to phone calls or text messages.

The draft policy proposed a compensation of Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 if a flight is delayed by two hours and the airline is responsible for it. Passengers aboard a flight delayed by bad weather, staff strike and mid-air technical snags cannot claim the benefit.

For cancellations, the airline will have to pay the same compensation with food and hotel accommodation. Those denied boarding could claim compensation up to Rs 4,000 in addition to a full ticket refund.