The government is promoting low-cost airlines in order to make air travel more accessible to ordinary citizens. However, there have been numerous instances in recent years when low-cost airlines have cancelled or rescheduled flights at the last minute, causing financial and psychological harm to passengers.
Furthermore, travel agents have accused these airlines of arbitrarily interpreting the rules of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). In light of this, the Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) has filed a legal action against the arbitrariness of low-cost airlines.
There have been cases of last-minute cancellations and rescheduling of flights at Ahmedabad airport for some time now. In such cases, a number of passengers get stranded at the airport even as the airlines often cite “operational reasons” to arbitrarily interpret DGCA rules. Cancellation of flights puts the agents in difficulty with passengers who have booked tickets, leading to friction between passengers and agents while the airlines stay out of the mess.
Advocate Prakash Chavda, who travels from Ahmedabad to Mumbai or Delhi every week, said, “I often book low-fare tickets in advance. But sometimes flights get cancelled. Under these circumstances I have to buy expensive tickets from other airlines at the last minute.” A well-known doctor of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital said, “Low-cost airline tickets often turn out very expensive. Food, soft drinks or even drinking water are not included in the flights and passengers are forced to buy these.”
Many passengers who come to Ahmedabad have also talked of their bitter experience of low-cost airlines over the past few years. Talking to Mirror on the issue, TAFI chairman (Gujarat) Manish Sharma said, “We have more than 200 travel agents in the state as members. Passengers and travel agents are getting frustrated by the arbitrariness of low-cost airlines.
We have invited complaints from travel agents, and at least 20 have come in against low-cost airlines. Our advocate will take up our case before the DGCA or the court.” Talking to Mirror on the issue, TAFI chairman (Gujarat) Manish Sharma said, “We have more than 200 travel agents in the state as members. Passengers and travel agents are getting frustrated by the arbitrariness of low-cost airlines. We have invited complaints from travel agents, and at least 20 have come in against low-cost airlines. Our advocate will take up our case before the DGCA or the court.”