CHEATING IN THE AIR

A major private domestic airline is reportedly taking undue advantage of the resumption of flights. The airline has opened bookings for all flights. People are rushing in to reserve their seats. But in case of many flights the passengers are receiving messages from the carrier a day before their departure that the flight has been cancelled due to “operational reasons”. Instead of returning the fare, the airline is asking them to book their seat for a later date. This way, the oversmart airline has mopped up a huge amount. But what is the guarantee that even on the next date the flight won’t be cancelled?

Meanwhile, in a major security hazard, the Spicejet management played with the lives of the passengers on board Delhi-patna flight SG-8480, on 30 May which was diverted to Varanasi due to bad weather. Shockingly, the passengers were made to sit at a “safe distance” on the tarmac; the assembly of passengers on the runway is considered a major security hazard.

In another shocking incident, Spicejet pilots, who operated a cargo flight to Ras-al-khaimah were put in one room rather than the airline arranging different hotel accommodation for them. There was no concern for “safe distancing” to be maintained because of the coronavirus scare. This flight SG-7243 operated from Delhi-hyderabadras-al-khaimah with B737-800 freighter on 29 May. Two pilots operated the flight and three went as additional crew members. “All of them were made to share one room as if they were part of cargo packages,” another pilot told this paper and sent us a picture of his colleagues crammed into one room.