New Delhi, 31 March 2026 – In a sharp exchange during the Rajya Sabha session on 30 March 2026, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha spotlighted the everyday struggles of air passengers in India, calling for stricter airline accountability over frequent flight delays.
Chadha argued that airlines impose heavy penalties on passengers for even minor excess baggage—charging thousands of rupees per kilogram—yet offer little recourse when flights are routinely delayed by three to four hours. “Passengers lose valuable time and productivity, but there is no automatic compensation mechanism,” he said, urging the government to introduce hourly cash compensation paid directly to affected travellers. He also pressed for monthly public reports detailing each airline’s delay statistics by route to ensure greater transparency.
Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu responded by outlining the safeguards already in place under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations, specifically the Passenger Charter and Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV. While these rules mandate assistance and, in certain cases, compensation, they stop short of the blanket hourly payouts Chadha proposed.
Under current DGCA guidelines, airlines operating domestic flights must extend the following support to passengers who have checked in on time, provided the delay is not caused by extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather, air traffic control issues, or security concerns: Delay Duration Airline Obligations Any delay (once announced) Timely information and regular updates Short delay (typically after 2 hours) Meals and refreshments Overnight delay Hotel accommodation and ground transportation Delay exceeding 6 hours or cancellation Full refund or rebooking on the next available flight at no extra cost Specific controllable delays or denied boarding Monetary compensation ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹20,000, depending on flight distance and length of delay (capped at ₹20,000)
These provisions apply primarily to domestic flights on Indian carriers. International flights follow separate, often more limited rules. Passengers are advised to first approach the airline for resolution. If unsatisfied, they can escalate the matter through the government’s AirSewa portal or approach consumer courts.
Chadha’s intervention has struck a chord on social media, with many flyers sharing similar experiences of uncompensated delays. While the minister affirmed that existing rules provide meaningful protection, the demand for an automatic hourly compensation system and public delay dashboards could shape future policy discussions—especially as Parliament continues deliberations on the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024, aimed at modernising India’s aviation framework.
The session also touched on broader issues, including aircraft maintenance concerns. As air travel volumes continue to rise, the debate underscores the growing expectation that passenger time be valued on par with airline revenue streams.
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