Airlines
Qatar Airways fined Rs 7.5L in an old complaint of Kerala HC judge
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.
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.
Airlines
Air India Unveils New Changes to HALAL Meat in Inflight Meals
Air India has introduced significant changes to its inflight meal policy, particularly regarding halal-certified non-vegetarian meals, in response to the diverse dietary preferences of its passengers.
Effective from Sunday, November 10, the airline announced that it will no longer provide halal-certified non-vegetarian meals for Hindu and Sikh passengers. Instead, passengers can pre-book a Muslim Meal (MOML), which will still be halal-certified, ensuring that those who specifically request halal options can continue to receive them.
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The decision to adjust the meal offerings reflects Air India’s commitment to accommodating the various dietary needs of its diverse passenger base.
Under the new policy, the air india food menu will introduce non-halal non-vegetarian meal options, alongside its existing “Hindu Meal” that excludes beef and pork. This move is designed to cater to the dietary requirements of different faith groups while maintaining respect for their religious practices.
The announcement has been widely appreciated by many Hindu and Sikh passengers, who view the decision as a respectful gesture towards their cultural and religious traditions.
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By discontinuing halal-certified meals for Hindus and Sikhs, Air India is seen as addressing the growing demand for more inclusive meal options.
This shift is also seen as a stand against the so-called “halal mafia,” which some believe has influenced meal policies on airlines in India.
In a press release, air india plane further clarified the details of the new meal offerings. “MOML (Muslim Meal): Pre-booked meals labeled with a ‘MOML’ sticker are considered special meals (SPML),” the airline explained.
“A Halal Certificate will be provided only for the pre-booked MOML meal. All meals on flights to Saudi Arabia will remain halal-certified, with a Halal Certificate available for sectors to Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh, and Medina, including Haj flights.”
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