Airlines

Qatar Airways fined Rs 7.5L in an old complaint of Kerala HC judge

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In response to a five-year-old complaint made by Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas of the Kerala High Court against Qatar Airways for removing him and his friends from the plane despite possessing tickets, a consumer court in this city fined the airline Rs 7.5 lakh.

The consumer court ordered an amount of Rs 7 lakh to be paid to the complainant as compensation for the mental distress, hardship, and physical stress that endured as a result of the other parties’ poor service and unfair business practices, along with an additional Rs 50,000 to cover the expense of the legal action.

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His case was brought before the Consumer Commission in 2018, two years before he was sworn in as a judge. The 54-year-old judge, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas, is the son of former Supreme Court Judge K.T. Thomas.

His case was against Qatar Airways, for which he and friends had booked tickets for months before their actual departure date. However, when they arrived in Qatar from Kochi on their way to Scotland, they were told that the flight to Edinburgh had been overbooked. They provided hotel accommodations, a $250 voucher, and booked the group on a flight to Edinburgh the next day.

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Thomas issued a legal notice to Qatar Airways after arriving at his house requesting compensation, but he never heard back. Thomas then went to the Ernakulam district commission to get compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs.

On December 30, 2022, the Consumer Court finally granted Justice Thomas’ request. The Consumer Court determined that it is an unfair business practise and a deficit in service to prevent passengers with valid boarding cards from boarding the flight. The airline must pay a total fine of Rs. 7.5 lakh to the court within 30 days.

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Airlines

Air India Rolls Out A350s for Delhi-New York JFK and Newark Routes

In a major development for North American travelers, Air India has announced the deployment of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two key routes: Delhi to New York and Delhi to Newark.

The service on the Delhi-New York route will commence on November 1, 2024, while the Delhi-Newark route will see its inaugural flight on January 2, 2025.

The introduction of the air india a350 will bring significant enhancements to Air India’s offerings, particularly with the launch of its Premium Economy class. air india retrofit This new class will feature 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, providing passengers with extra legroom and a more comfortable flying experience.

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“We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our air india a350 interior to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India.

The A350’s Business class will set new standards with 28 private suites, each equipped with full-flat beds, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes. Economy class will be configured to accommodate 264 passengers in a 3-4-3 layout. Across all cabins, passengers will enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, offering over 2,200 hours of content.

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This strategic deployment marks a notable enhancement in Air India’s U.S. operations, with 60% of its flights to the U.S. now featuring new or upgraded cabin interiors. The air india new international routes currently operates 51 weekly flights to five U.S. destinations: New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The revamped cabins, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, and improved service standards represent air india wifi commitment to providing a superior travel experience. “We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India’s position as a leading carrier and attract travellers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States,” the airline stated.

Seats on these flights are now available for booking on Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents, ensuring that passengers can easily plan their journeys on these newly upgraded routes.