Stricter rules for unruly passengers

Mumbai: After the ban on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad was revoked, National Carrier Air India has come up with rules and procedure for unruly passengers.

Highlighting the recent incidents of unruly VIP passengers, the airline has said that it will now impose a fine on them. According to the letter (copy available with The Asian Age) if an unruly passenger halts the aircraft for an hour he or she would have to pay Rs 5 lakh as fine, for two hours delay a fine of 10 lakh and passengers halting the aircraft for more than two hours will have to shell out Rs 15 lakh.

After the letter dated April 13 was sent to the legal department of the airline, the Air India has come up with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed to tackle an unruly passenger onboard. The SOPs approved by the legal heads stated that recent cases of unruly passengers (whether VIP or no) has damaged the morale of the airline employees and has also given them a negative image.

The airline also declared that due to 90 minutes delay caused by Mr Gaikwad on March 23, a Goa- Delhi flight apart from the other flights were consequently delayed. The airline also mentioned the incidents of TMC MP Dola Sen delaying flight on April 7 and Mithun Reddy assaulting the airline officer at Tirupati.

Stating the three recent incidents of unruly (VIP) passengers while flying Air India the letter stated, “Even a hotel on the roadside has a board ‘Rights of Admission Reserved’. Air India, therefore must have a procedure for handling of such unruly passengers. Unruly behaviour does not require any provocation.”