Jagson Airlines fined for not informing flight delay

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Consumer Commission has slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on private air carrier Jagson Airlines for its failure to inform passengers about delay in one of its flights six years ago.

Commission President Justice J D Kapoor ordered the private air carrier to pay the sum as damages to four members of a family who were left stranded at an airport here waiting for a flight which was delayed by over five hours.

The airline had taken the defence that the flight was rescheduled owing to a technical snag beyond its control and that there was no "deficiency in service" on its part.

Refusing to buy this argument of Jagson Airlines, the Commission, in a recent order, said that such defences were "not at all" available to an air carrier unless the reasons are beyond human control.

The commission also deplored the "stereotype excuse" of the airline citing technical snag as the reason for delay, saying such an "insensitive, casual or indifferent attitude" always leaves the passengers high and dry causing mental agony, harassment and loss of business.

"It is the duty of the service provider to keep its fleet in fit condition and not employ persons of lower skills who cannot keep it ready and fit. Otherwise, the object of timing of the flights shall go haywire," it said.

Noting the airline had not adduced any such reason which was beyond human control, the Commission has asked Jagson Airlines to pay Rs 50,000 to the four, E N S Moorthy, T V A Laxmi, N Arvind and N Anand, all residents of Janakpuri here, who were not informed about the over five hour delay in their flight.