Lok Sabha Question No. 154 (STARRED), answered on 2024-08-01
Subject: Flights from Gulf Sector
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Anto Antony

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION Lok Sabha

STARRED QUESTION NO. : 154

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  1st August 2024 )

## FLIGHTS FROM GULF SECTOR

154.    SHRI ANTO ANTONY

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  noticed  that  Air  India  and  Air  India Express have cancelled four flights in Kerala Gulf sector on 15th July 2024  which  led  to  more  than  800  passengers  stranded  at  different airports in Kerala and Gulf countries;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for last minute cancellations;
- (c) whether  it is true that the passengers  are  entitled to get compensations  for  the  flight  cancellation  as  per  the  Civil  Aviation Rules;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including compensations provided to the passengers during the last six months, month-wise;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  noticed  that  on  cancellation  of booking, almost 40 per cent of ticket charge is being deducted even before 24 hours of departure of the flight; and
- (f)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  justification  for  the  said
- cases/incidents?

## ANSWER

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION      (Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)

(a) to (f) : A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

******

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (F) IN  RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 154 FOR  REPLY  ON  01.08.2024  REGARDING  FLIGHTS  FROM GULF SECTOR ASKED BY SHRI ANTO ANTONY.;  (a) & (b) : Domestic airlines operate their flights as per the  schedules approved  by  Directorate  General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA). However,  the  flights  are  sometimes  get  cancelled  due  to various  reasons  such  as  weather,  technical,  operational which are beyond the control of airlines. Air India cancelled 03 flights between  Kerala and Gulf countries on 15.07.2024 due to technical reasons. No flight of Air India Express was, however, cancelled on this date.  (c) & (d): In order to ensure appropriate  protection  for  the  air  travellers,  DGCA  has issued   Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV titled "Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines  due  to  denied  boarding,  cancellation  of  flights  and delays  in  flights".  Under  the  provisions  of  this  CAR,  if  the passenger  is  not  informed  of  the  cancellation  at  least  24 hours before the scheduled flight operation, the airline shall either provide an alternate flight or provide compensation in addition  to  the  full  refund  of      the  ticket.  In  addition,  the airline shall provide meals and refreshments to the passengers  who  have  already  reported  for  their  original flight  at  the  airport.      The  details  of  number  of  passengers affected and the facilities and compensation amount in the last  6  months  are  at  Annexure.    (e)  &  (f)  :  Cancellation charges  are  not  regulated  by  the  Government.  DGCA  has, however,    issued  CAR  Section  3  Series-M,  Part-II  titled  ' Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers or Public Transport Undertakings' which provides, inter alia,    that  cancellation charges  must  be  indicated  prominently  at  the  time  of booking, the airline or its agent shall not levy cancellation charges  more  than  the  basic  fare  plus  fuel  surcharge,  the airline shall refund all statutory taxes and User Development Fee (UDF)/ Airport Development Fee (ADF)/ Passenger Service Fee ( PSF) to the passengers in case of cancellation/ non-utilisation of tickets/ no show.

ANNEXURE

| Months   |   No. of Pax Affected |   Facilities and Compensation (in Rs. Lakhs) |
|----------|-----------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| Jan-24   |                 68352 |                                       143.74 |
| Feb-24   |                 29143 |                                        99.96 |
| Mar-24   |                 23675 |                                        40.3  |
| Apr-24   |                 32314 |                                        89.26 |
| May-24   |                 62100 |                                       130.23 |
| Jun-24   |                 77276 |                                       119.22 |
|          |                292860 |                                       623    |