Facing Flight Delay Or Cancellation? Here's What Indian Aviation Guidelines Entitle You To

In case of a delay of less than six hours, airline passengers are entitled for meals and refreshments at the airport (Photo: Envato)

Air India will reduce its international services on widebody aircraft by 15% for the next few weeks, according to a press release on Wednesday. The decision came after recent disruptions in international operations, that led to 83 cancellations over the past six days.

The flight disruptions are attributed to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, night curfews in European and East Asian airspaces, ongoing enhanced safety inspections, and a cautious approach by engineering staff and pilots post the Ahmedabad crash a week ago.

Here's what you're entitled to if your flight gets delayed or cancelled, as per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation guidelines.

Delay of Less Than 24 Hours

In case of a delay of less than six hours, airline passengers are entitled for meals and refreshments at the airport.

When a domestic flight is expected to be delayed for more than six hours from the published scheduled time of departure or previously revised departure time, airlines are mandated to offer an option of either an alternate flight within a period of six hours or full refund of ticket to the passenger.

Delay Of More Than 24 Hours

When total delay is more than 24 hours from the published scheduled time of departure or more than 6 hours for flights scheduled to depart between 8 pm and 3 am, the passenger shall be offered hotel accommodation when necessary including transfers. Also, an operating airline shall have absolute discretion in selection of hotels under the given circumstances.

To be sure, the airline has no obligation to compensate if the delay is caused due to extraordinary circumstances.

In Case Of Flight Cancellation...

The airline shall inform the passenger of the cancellation at least two weeks before the scheduled time of departure and arrange alternate flight/refund as acceptable to the passenger.

In case the passengers are informed of the cancellation less than two weeks before and up to 24 hours of the scheduled time of departure, the airline shall offer an alternate flight or refund the ticket, as acceptable to the passenger.

For passengers who have not been informed or missed the connecting flight booked on the same ticket number of an airline, the airlines shall either provide alternate flight as acceptable to the passenger or provide compensation in addition to the full refund of the air ticket.

One will not be entitled for any compensation in case he or she don't accept alternate travel arrangements offered by the airline or when the cancellation occurs due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the airline.