Flat Tyre No Excuse for Flight Cancellation: Gujarat Consumer Panel Penalises Ventura Air Connect

Ahmedabad: An airline cannot cite a flat tyre to justify flight cancellation when inadequate fleet management leaves passengers stranded, the Gujarat State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has ruled, holding Ventura Air Connect Ltd liable for deficiency in service.

Dismissing the airline’s appeal, the state commission upheld compensation awarded to a passenger, who learnt that his flight had been cancelled only after reaching Amreli airport. It also imposed an additional penalty of Rs 10,000.

The flyer had booked two tickets on Ventura Air Connect’s flight VA-702, scheduled to operate from Amreli to Surat on October 2, 2023. Travelling from Khambha, he reached the airport only to find the flight cancelled. The airline’s cancellation email arrived after the scheduled departure time, triggering an altercation with ground staff.

Following the incident, the airline blacklisted the flyer, alleging aggressive behaviour towards its CEO. He subsequently approached the Amreli District Consumer Commission, challenging the cancellation and blacklisting.

The district commission directed the airline to reimburse Rs 6,000 for taxi expenses, pay Rs 50,000 for mental agony and harassment, and Rs 3,000 towards litigation costs. It also ordered the removal of his name from the blacklist.

Challenging the order, Ventura Air Connect argued that a flat tyre had forced the cancellation in compliance with aviation safety norms and that the ticket fare had been refunded.

The state commission rejected the defence, noting that two of the airline’s three aircraft were already undergoing maintenance, leaving it with just one operational aircraft and no contingency arrangement.

Calling the situation foreseeable rather than an act of God, the commission held that the cancellation reflected failures in maintenance and fleet management and could not be treated as force majeure.

The commission dismissed the appeal, upheld the compensation order and directed the airline to pay an additional Rs 10,000, taking the total compensation and costs to Rs 69,000. The order to remove Jani from the blacklist also stands. DeshGujarat