This refers to the editorial, “Finally, its pretty air tight” (September 13). By announcing a new set of rules for the national ‘no-fly’ list for domestic passengers, efforts of the Civil Aviation Ministry, in striking a fine balance between passenger conduct and airlines safety is evident. Affected passengers get sufficient time for airing their grievances effectively before the airliners internal committee and the appellate committee. Identification of three levels of offences is salutary. But that the ‘no-fly’ provisions are applicable only inside the flight takes a little sheen off the decision. Moreover, the onus appears to lie totally on the passengers to prove their innocence with no compensation admissible if the airliners is proved wrong.
Many-a-time, the line of differentiation between protest and misbehaviour is wafer thin. High-handed attitude of the airliners is not uncommon. Heated arguments over a passenger arriving a trifle late at the check-in counter, denial of seat as a consequence of overbooking, unexplainable flight delay, poor quality of food served — are all reasons enough for fliers to lose their cool. The dangerous possibility of the airliners using the new rules to browbeat a flier on the flimsiest of pretexts should be borne in mind by the inquiry committees. After all, different airliners have flourished in India, thanks to their loyal patrons: The passengers.