Flight cancelled, family ‘forced’ to extend Goa stay, airline ordered to pay Rs 64,000

A consumer commission in Punjab has ruled that an airline must reimburse a passenger Rs 14,000 for hotel expenses incurred during a flight cancellation, along with Rs 30,000 in compensation and Rs 20,000 to cover legal fees. The airline canceled a flight from Amritsar to Goa without warning, leaving the passenger and his family stranded and forced to find emergency accommodation during the peak tourist season.

The airline claimed the cancellation was due to dense fog, but the commission found that the passenger was entitled to assistance, as the airline did not arrange lodging or offer meaningful alternatives. The commission emphasized that even in cases of weather-related cancellations, airlines must provide reasonable help to affected passengers.