New Delhi: New charter has been drafted by the government to empower passengers. Flyers will soon be able to cancel flight tickets free of charge within 24 hours of booking as long as there are at least four days left for the scheduled departure. This was specified in a draft passenger charter issued by the civil aviation ministry on Tuesday. Under the new set of rules put forth in the document, which aims to enhance air traveller rights, passengers will also be entitled to a refund if the flight is delayed for over four hours and the delay has been communicated a day in advance. Additionally, missing a connecting flight due to a delay caused by the airline will get travellers a refund of anywhere between Rs 5,000 and Rs 20,000.
The draft will be kept open for public consultation for 30 days. The government expects to notify it by mid-July.
The charter also stated that passengers must be provided hot snacks and beverages free of cost if their flight is stationed on the tarmac for over 60 minutes. They should be de-boarded if the waiting period crosses 120 minutes, it added.