Consumer Commission Rules Such Events Cause Mental Anguish

While the idea of a so-called "passengers bill of rights" has faced an uphill battle among US lawmakers, the spirit of such legislation appears alive and well in India.

An Indian consumer court recently ruled airlines must compensate passengers for flight delays and sudden cancellations, reports The Associated Press, on grounds such events could cause passengers 'mental agony' and harassment.

A precedent has already been established. Justice J.D. Kapoor -- who heads the New Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redress Commission -- ruled private carrier Go Air must pay 15,000 rupees ($380) to each passenger on a February flight from New Delhi to Mumbai, that was abruptly cancelled without explanation to passengers.

According to the Hindustan Times, Kapoor determined only delays beyond the airlines' control -- like bad weather -- should be exempt from the compensation policy.

As India's airline industry has surged in recent years, passenger complaints have also risen. Disgruntled passengers have taken to protesting at airport gates... and, in some cases, inside airliners.

Despite the prospect of airlines having to throw good money after bad, however, the problem continues. As many as 10 Air India flights to New York, London and Toronto were delayed last week, according to the AP, due to technical problems and a lack of available pilots.

Cha-ching!

FMI: http://dgca.nic.in/