Flight cancelled; Etihad directed to pay compensation to passenger

HYDERABAD: The Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-I in Hyderabad has directed Etihad Airways to pay Rs 1.11 lakhs to a passenger in connection with the incident where a flight from Hyderabad to New York via Dubai was cancelled due to Covid in 2021. The court directed the airline to pay the money as it failed to refund or reschedule the tickets of the passenger following the cancellation of the flight.

Etihad has been directed to pay an additional Rs 20,000 in compensation, along with 9% interest. It should pay the money within 45 days from June 27, failing which a further 3 per cent interest will be levied. The airline was also directed to pay Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs.

The passenger had booked the flight ticket from Hyderabad to New York in February 2021 through the Etihad Airways' reservation office in Mehdipatnam. In his complaint, the passenger said that although he attempted several times to reach out to Etihad Airways following the cancellation of the flight, the airline refused to refund the money or reschedule the travel dates.

However, Etihad countered that the complaint contacted them only in July 2022—much later than the March 2022 deadline. Subsequently, the consumer forum investigated the matter and found that the complainant had approached the airlines within the stipulated time frame.