In a significant move aimed at empowering air travellers, Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana, Kartikeya Sharma, raised critical concerns regarding passenger rights in the upper house of Parliament on Monday. He highlighted a glaring lack of awareness among flyers about their entitlements during flight disruptions, urging the government to take immediate corrective measures.
Passengers Left in the Dark During Travel Chaos
During the Question Hour, Sharma pointed out a major paradox in India's rapidly growing civil aviation sector. Despite the increasing number of people taking to the skies, a significant portion remains unaware of their legal rights when flights are delayed, cancelled, overbooked, or diverted. He emphasized that this information gap disproportionately affects first-time flyers, passengers from non-metro regions, senior citizens, and those facing language barriers.
These passengers, Sharma noted, often do not know what assistance, facilities, or financial compensation they are entitled to receive from airlines during such inconvenient and stressful situations. This lack of knowledge leaves them vulnerable and unable to effectively claim their due.
Call for an Action Plan and Visible Displays
The MP specifically called upon the Ministry of Civil Aviation to devise a concrete action plan to bridge this awareness gap. His central demand was for the prominent and visible display of passenger rights at all key touchpoints within the travel ecosystem.
Sharma proposed that these entitlements should be clearly communicated at:
- Airport terminals and waiting areas
- Airline check-in counters and help desks
- Boarding gates
- Digital platforms, including airline websites and apps
The objective is to ensure that any traveller facing a disruption can clearly and instantly know their rights in real-time, without having to search through complex legal documents or websites.
Leveraging Existing Frameworks for Passenger Welfare
In his address, Kartikeya Sharma referred to existing mechanisms like the Air Seva Portal and the Passenger Charter. He underlined that awareness of these resources and the rights they enumerate can significantly reduce stress, confusion, and potential exploitation for passengers during travel hiccups.
The move underscores a growing demand for translating policy into practical, on-ground awareness. Ensuring passengers are informed, the argument goes, not only empowers them but also pushes airlines to adhere more strictly to regulations, thereby improving the overall health of the aviation sector.
