Patwalia also argued that DGCA had the power under the rules to regulate air tariff and it can regulate unbundled services, like selection of seats, booking meals etc, by way of its April 30, 2013 circular under which the services were unbundled and that circular has not been challenged.
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Air-passengers around India may now heave a sigh of relief following the new price regulations by the civil aviation policy regarding ticket cancellations and refund processing charges.
Under no circumstances, shall the airline levy a cancellation charge more than the basic fare plus fuel surcharge, aviation regulator DGCA said.
The cancellation charges will be clearly displayed on every ticket and it will be prominently displayed on the website of the airline.
The norms put the onus on airlines to process the refund of cancelled tickets purchased from travel agents who are their “appointed representatives”. Airlines have also been mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) to refund all statutory taxes and user development fee (UDF), airport development fee (ADF), or passenger service fee (PSF) to the passengers in case of “cancellation/non-utilisation of tickets or no show”. “The option of holding the refund amount in a credit shell by an airline shall be the prerogative of the passenger and not a default practice of the airline”, the DGCA order says.
The DGCA told a bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva that it has been receiving representations from harassed passengers on how they were being subjected to unjust treatment by airlines asking them to pay as much as Rs 350 for even one kg of baggage over the allowed limit.
The latest vehicle prescribes minimum requirements for refund of ticket purchased by persons with respect to air transport undertakings including scheduled and non-scheduled domestic operators as well as foreign carriers operating to/from India.
The rule that in the case of credit-card payments, airlines have to refund the amount within seven days of cancellation remains.
Airline shall not levy any additional charge for correction in name of the same person, when error in his name spelling is pointed out by the passenger to the airline after the ticket is booked, the new rules state.
Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju had said that his Ministry was committed not only to the growth of the Airline industry but also to ensure that flying for most Indians becomes a pleasant experience.
The new rules have been finalised after wide consultations with the public and internal deliberations, sources in the aviation ministry claimed.
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Airports will have to reserve parking spaces close to the terminal building for people with disabilities or reduced mobility and provide ramps at least at the main entrance or exit gates. “Effectiveness of the provision for standardisation of such equipment will be from October 1, 2016”, adding, “Airlines shall develop a procedure for making advance request of stretcher and the same should be displayed on airline’s website”.
