In a significant order, The Vadodara District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ordered GoAir to pay Gujarat-based businessman, Piyush Kalvani, Rs 1.17 lakh compensation for a cancelled flight.
The commission observed that the airline had followed “unethical trade practices”. It said that sending messages in advance about cancelled flights was not sufficient action for an airline to escape liability. The carrier, which is no longer operational, has been ordered to pay the flyer Rs 1.17 lakh, over three times the price of the ticket.
As per the order of the commission, the airline has to also pay Kalvani Rs 3,000 for mental harassment and Rs 2,000 as legal costs. The price of the ticket of the cancelled flight was Rs 35,140.
‘Unethical trade practices’
The commission observed that the airline resorted to unethical trade practices by not giving a refund and also not giving Kalvani what he had paid for an alternative flight he had to take as a result of the cancellation.
In February 2023, Kalvani booked five tickets from Ahmedabad to Srinagar via Delhi for April 30, 2023 at a cost of Rs 37,440. He also booked a return ticket from Srinagar to Ahmedabad via Delhi for May 6, 2023, paying Rs 35,140.
On April 28, 2023, Kalvani got an SMS from the airline saying his return flight had been cancelled. On inquiring, he was told it may be restored. He flew to Srinagar and on May 3, 2023, he got another message from the airline that his return flight was cancelled.
Kalvani had to book another flight with Air India, for which he paid Rs 1.17 lakh. After he got back he sought a refund of Rs 35,140 for the cancelled flight and Rs 82,050 he had to pay extra for the return ticket. GoAir refused to pay both amounts.
Kalvani filed a complaint with the consumer commission in August 2023 demanding Rs 1.17 lakh with 18% interest and Rs 25,000 towards mental harassment as well as legal costs.
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