Flight cancellations hit over 18,300 passengers in August

New Delhi: More than 18,300 passengers were affected due to cancellation of flights in August while IndiGo and Vistara did not cancel any services last month, according to latest official data.

As many as 9,989 passengers of Air Pegasus -- which did not operate a single flight last month -- were impacted by the cancellations in August.

Incidentally, the revised compensations norms for flight cancellations/delays and denied boarding for cancelled flights, which has been increased multi-fold, also came into effect from August.

As per the revised norms, airlines have to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000 or booked one-way basic fare plus fuel charge, whichever is less for cancelled/ delayed flights having a block time of up to one hour in addition to refund of ticket, in case a flier has not been informed by the carrier as per the DGCA norms.

In the case of an airline cancelling/delaying its flight over one hour but up to two hours the compensation amount stands at Rs 7,500 or booked one-way basic fare plus fuel charge, whichever is less, besides the refund amount, according to the revised norms.

Similarly, an amount of Rs 10,000 or booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, whichever is less, is now the compensation for flights having a block time of more than two hours.

Block hours refer to the period when an aircraft pushes back from its departure gate till the moment it reaches the arrival gate. These hours are used to calculate an airline's on-time performance (OTP) besides determining the compensation in the eventuality of a flight getting cancelled or delayed.

Data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) today showed that a total of 18,353 passengers were affected by flight cancellations.

Depending on the situation, passengers were refunds, flights were rescheduled and refreshments provided.

After Air Pegasus, the number of passengers affected by flight cancellations was from Air India. Last month, the number stood at 3,634 for the national carrier, followed by SpiceJet (1,470) and Air Costa (1,219). 

Faced with financial woes, Air Pegasus has suspended operations.

As per the data, 1,156 passengers of Jet Airways and Jet Lite were impacted by cancellations. 408 and 330 fliers of Air Carnival and AirAsia respectively were affected due to cancelled flights in August.

In case of denied boarding, airline are supposed to pay an amount equal to 200 per cent of booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, subject to maximum of Rs 20,000, in case airline arranges alternate flight that is scheduled to depart within 24 hours of the booked scheduled departure, as per the revised norms.

An amount equal to 400 per cent of booked one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, subject to maximum of Rs 20,000, is to be paid to a flier in case airline arranges alternate flight that is scheduled to depart beyond 24 hours of the booked scheduled departure, as per the revised norms.