Lok Sabha Question No. 4783 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Review on Overbooking by Airlines
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU, MAHEISH GIRRI, PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. (To be answered on the March 2017) 30th

## REVIEW ON OVERBOOKING BY AIRLINES

4783.

DR. GOKARAJU GANGA RAJU SHRI MAHEISH GIRRI SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state: -

- (a) whether the Ministry has received any reports of overbooking of passengers by airlines in the recent past;

whether the Government proposes to take

- (b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;

a

review on the

overbooking by

- (d) whether National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission recently had asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to formulate a rational policy to prevent harassment of passengers left out from overbooking by airlines and if so, the details thereof; and

airlines and if s0, the details thereof;

- (e) whether the Government proposes to formulate guidelines to prevent the harassment of passengers refused boarding despite having confirmed seats and presently there are n0 clear-cut guidelines/policy to take care 0f such passengers and made arrangements to book them on alternative flights in the shortest possible time and if the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIA TION

(Shri Jayant Sinha)

- (a) to (c): As an industry practice followed globally, scheduled domestic airlines do bookings, placing some limits on the number of overbooked seats with the expectation that there will be a sufficient number of cancellations or "no shows by departure time which is generally based on the trend observed by them for cancellation of booking or no show.

DGCA has issued Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR); Section 3 Air Transport, Series M, Part IV Rev 2 titled "Facilitation to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights" The CAR specifies the facilitation compensation to be provided to passenger in case 0f denied boarding due to overbooking

(d): The Order in the matter of Revision Petition No. 2194 of 2013 between Radha Kinkari Kejriwal Vs Jet Airways (India) Limited Ors; the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has made general observation on airline overbooking policy and asked DGCA to hold deliberations 0n the issue & evolve a set of policy guidelines to prevent avoidable harassment to consumer in future:

(e): CAR Section 3 Air Transport, Series M, Part IV Rev 2 titled "Facilitation to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation 0f flights and delays in flights was first issued on 2010 and have undergone revisions in 2011 and 2016. The latest revision enhance the compensation to the passengers in cases of denied boarding in order to minimize the passenger inconvenience. As per the provision introduced in the latest revision of the CAR,if the boarding is denied to passengers against their will, the airline is required to arrange alternate flight that is scheduled to depart within one hour of the original schedule departure time of the initial reservation: Failing to do s0, the airline shall compensate the passengers as per the applicable provisions of the CAR:

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