Union Ministry of Civil Aviation proposes passenger centric amendments to CARs

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju along with MOS Dr Mahesh Sharma on 11 June 2016 presided over a presentation made by DGCA with regard to Passenger Centric Initiatives. The Ministry is committed to ensure that flying for most Indians becomes a pleasant experience along with the growth of the Airline industry. Accordingly, it proposed certain amendments to the existing Civil Aviation Requirements

(CARs).

Category wise proposals in the amendments of CARs:

Category –I: Refund of Air Tickets

• The Ministry proposed that the refund process should be completed within 15 working days in case of domestic travel and 30 working days in case of international travel.

• It also proposed that in case of cancellation of tickets, statutory taxes and user development fee/airport development fee/passenger service fee shall be refunded.

• The Ministry also proposed in this category that under no circumstances cancellation shall be more than the basic fair.

Category –II: Denied Boarding, flight cancellation and flight delays

• The Ministry has proposed that an amount equal to 200 percent of booked one way basic fair plus airline fuel charge subject to maximum of 10000 rupees would be paid to passengers in case airline arranges alternate flight that is to depart after one hour but within 24 hours of the booked scheduled departure.

Category –III: Persons with reduced mobility

• Airlines shall develop a procedure for making advance request of stretcher and same should be displayed on airline’s website.

• Airlines, airport operators, security personnel, customs and immigration shall conduct training  programme, as per training module provided by Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for all their personnel engaged in passenger services for sensitization and developing awareness for assisting persons with disability or reduced mobility.

• Foreign carriers operating to/from India shall refund the tickets in accordance with regulations of their country of origin.

Luggage:

• The Ministry proposed that the Airline should restrict additional baggage charge 100 rupees per kg With regard to checking baggage charges for the baggage between 15 to 20 kilograms.

The above proposal will be put up on the Union Aviation Ministry’s website for 15 days during which Stakeholders are free to give their suggestions and comments. 

After that the Ministry will finalize the proposed amendments and implement them very soon.