The Ministry of Civil Aviation in India has a mechanism for grievance redressal for private airlines through the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System and AirSewa Portal. Passengers who are not satisfied with the resolution provided by the airlines can file an appeal. The airlines are required to appoint a nodal officer and an appellate authority and display their contact information on their websites. In case of ticket purchase through a travel agent or portal, the airlines are responsible for the refund process. There is no current proposal to set up a tribunal to address non-redressal of passenger complaints.
Grievance Redressal System
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 210
(TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2nd February 2023 )
GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL SYSTEM
- SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has any mechanism to ensure grievance redressal of private airlines;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government proposes to take steps to ensure proper grievance’ redressal by third party flight booking agent/applications regarding issues like refund etc.;
(d) if so, the steps being taken/proposed to be taken to protect the consumers;
(e) whether the Government proposes to set up any tribunal to check non-redressal of issues regarding passenger complaints; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))
(a) & (b): Yes Sir. The aggrieved passengers can lodge their grievances through the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), an online portal administered by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and AirSewa Portal managed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. These grievances are taken up with the concerned airlines for redressal. If the petitioner is not satisfied with the resolution of grievance by airline, he/ she has option to file an appeal. Disposal of the grievances is monitored at various levels. Every airline appoints a nodal officer and an appellate authority and displays their contact details on their respective websites.
(c) & (d): Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) Section 3 Air Transport Series M, Part Il namely Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers of Public Transport Undertakings states that in case of purchase of ticket through travel agent/portal, onus of refund shall lie with the airlines as agents are their appointed representatives. The airlines shall ensure that the refund process is completed within 30 working days. Such grievances are also taken up with the airlines for resolution.
(e): No such proposal is currently under consideration.
(f): Does not arise.
Source: loksabha.nic.in