A Kerala man has won a nine-year legal battle against Air India after a consumer commission ordered the airline to pay him Rs. 1.36 lakh in compensation for a delayed flight that caused him to miss his onward journey to Saudi Arabia.
The case dates back to 2017, when the passenger was travelling from Kerala to Mumbai on an Air India domestic flight before boarding a connecting international flight to Saudi Arabia. However, the domestic service was significantly delayed, resulting in him missing his onward flight and leaving him stranded overnight at Mumbai airport.
Following the incident, the passenger and his family approached the consumer commission, alleging deficiency in service and seeking compensation for the financial loss and inconvenience caused by the missed connection.
During the proceedings, Air India defended its actions and argued that it was not liable for the disruption. However, the Kerala consumer commission rejected the airline’s defence, holding it responsible for the hardship suffered by the passenger due to the delay.
The commission directed Air India to pay a total compensation of Rs. 136,000, bringing an end to the prolonged legal dispute that lasted nearly a decade.
The ruling underscores the rights of air passengers to seek legal remedies when flight disruptions result in significant financial losses or travel inconvenience. Consumer forums in India have increasingly held airlines accountable in cases where delays, cancellations or operational failures adversely affect travellers, particularly when they lead to missed connecting flights.
