INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: For the second time within 1.5 years, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fined Air India for not providing
mandatory facilities to passengers who are denied boarding or whose flights are delayed/cancelled
The regulator on Wednesday imposed Rs 10 lakh penalty on AI on this ground for these reasons as well as not compensating business class
passengers made to travel on unserviceable seats
Bengaluru airports of scheduled domestic operators this May and September to ascertain the discharge of their obligations related to
facilities/compensation provided to the passengers as per provisions laid down in DGCA regulations
During inspection, it was observed Air India was not complying with the provisions of the relevant (rules)
Accordingly, a show cause notice was issued to AI on November 3, 2023, seeking their response for non-compliance to the provisions of the
provisions of the (rules regarding) providing hotel accommodation for passengers affected by delayed flights, non training of some of their
ground personnel as per the stipulations laid down and non-payment of compensation to international business class passengers who were made
to travel on unserviceable seats
added.DGCA issues notice to Air India again for passenger relief neglectLast July the DGCA had directed AI to synchronise the tickets sold
in premium classes with the number of serviceable seats in those cabins and avoid involuntary downgrades to economy
This directive had come after some passengers who had bought business class on AI to fly from Amritsar to London had to travel economy due
account of unserviceable seats
DGCA took note of this and conducted an enquiry
We have warned AI from booking more business class passengers than serviceable seats available
The regulator had pointed out to AI that seats not meeting design specifications are not just about comfort but a safety issue too.In its
last few years as a cash-strapped government-owned airline, the Maharaja did not have funds to maintain and/or modernise passenger cabins of
As a result, non functional inflight entertainment screens, non-reclining seats, broken armrests and back of seat trays had become common
Global supply chain constraints have meant replacing the same is taking longer than originally expected under the founder and new owner,
