Rights of Domestic Airline Passengers in India: A Comprehensive Policy Need of the Hour

Rights of Domestic Airline Passengers in India: A Comprehensive Policy Need of the Hour

Shaik Nazim Ahmed Shafi[1]

“Aviation was once considered the domain of a select few, but that has changed now with the advent of UDAN. My dream is to see a person who wears a ‘hawai chappal’ to fly on the ‘hawai jahaz”.

-Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi

Abstract

The history of transport starts from 4000 BC with much developments in between till we reached to the first motor-driven airplane (1904).[2] The invention of aircraft by Wright Brothers in 1903 has led to shape many varieties of aircrafts which is evident today. The whole gamut of aviation at international is brought under the Chicago Convention 1944 with various Annexes attached to it and in India, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation play a vital role regulating the operations of aircraft and airports in India. Airports and the Airliners have become the economic engines for the development of any nation. Air transport has become an important means of transport and also the fastest means of transport system. In India, air travel once a luxury, has now become easy, due to vast expansion of aviation sector in India and also due its geographical diversity, air travel connects[3] the remote and has reduced the travel time when compared to other means of transport especially the railways. UDAN scheme was brought into action. Air travel has led to the economic growth through trade, tourism, business travel and the cargo and logistics. Even the air ambulances have become a life-saving means of transport which is at nascent stage. The emergence of Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization has led to the growth of air travel at domestic and international. In turn, the airline passengers must also know their rights under various situations where compensation is paid due to the negligence, or delay of flight; cancellation of flight etc. The rights of the airline passengers are protected and regulated by a complex of regulations in India. Hence, this research paper focuses the right of the domestic airline passengers, regulatory mechanism, various applicable laws and finally conclusion is drawn, by suggesting a comprehensive policy on the “Rights of Domestic Airline Passengers in India,  need of the hour.

Key Words: Aviation; Airline Passengers; Rights; CARs; Consumer; DGCA.