Airlines to reimburse up to 75% of ticket cost to flyers if downgraded involuntarily: DGCA

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday amended rules on facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights.

The amendment will allow the passenger, who is downgraded involuntarily and is carried in a class lower than that for which the ticket is purchased, to be reimbursed by the airline.

For the domestic sector, the reimbursement will be 75 per cent of the cost of the ticket including taxes.

For the International Sector, it will be 30 per cent of the cost of ticket including taxes for flights of 1500 km or less, 50 per cent of the cost of ticket including taxes for flights between 1500 km to 3500 km and 75 per cent of the cost of ticket including taxes for flights more than 3500 km.

"DGCA has amended its Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section-3, Series M Part IV Facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to denied boarding, cancellation of flights and delays in flights to strengthen the rights of air travellers affected by downgrading of their ticket," said the aviation regulator.