Flying to India? UAE travellers to get passenger rights link with tickets

Dubai: India’s aviation watchdog – the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) – has instructed airlines to provide passengers with a link to their rights and air tickets – a move taken to empower air passengers.

The passenger rights link, or the 'Passenger Charter of Rights' is a document that informs travellers about their rights and entitlements if they face service issues while travelling with the airline.

As per the DGCA directive, airlines must share the online link to the passenger charter available on the Ministry of Civil Aviation website via SMS or instant messaging application WhatsApp once the ticket is booked, Times of India has reported.

This new directive is particularly relevant for many UAE residents and tourists who frequently travel between the UAE and India.

Additionally, airlines must display this information on their websites to ensure passengers know their rights. The DGCA issued this directive after constant complaints from fliers.

 According to Indian media reports, India's biggest airline by market share, IndiGo has reportedly assured the regulator that it will implement this directive soon.

The passenger rights link is a source which will inform travellers about their entitlements concerning flight delays, cancellations, denied boarding, baggage loss or damage, and other potential inconveniences they might encounter during their journey.

This transparency helps passengers understand their rights and seek appropriate redressal when necessary.

For example, according to airline passenger rights charters, travellers facing a flight departure delay communicated more than 24 hours before the original scheduled time are entitled to free hotel accommodation if the delay extends beyond 24 hours.

Furthermore, for flights scheduled to depart between 8 pm and 3 am, this entitlement to complimentary hotel stay kicks in if the delay surpasses six hours.  

For UAE-based travellers, this development promises greater clarity and protection when undertaking their journeys to India, offering peace of mind and the knowledge of their entitlements should any service-related challenges arise.