National carrier Air India had the maximum number of flight cancellations this year, the government said today.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi, while responding to a written reply in Lok Sabha, however, attributed the cancellations to the pilot strike from April 27 to May 6.
He said the major cancellations, 2753, happened because "Air India had 740 and 1,848 cancellations in April and May, 2011 primarily due to pilot strike from April 27 to May 6, 2011."
The other airlines who had cancellations of their scheduled flights were Kingfisher Airlines (682), Jet Airways (540), Jetlite (381), Spicejet (351), IndiGo (89) and Go Air (84).
"Scheduled airlines generally operate their flights on approved schedules. However, at times the flights are cancelled due to watch hour restrictions, weather, technical reasons beyond the control of the airlines," Ravi said.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), (an application format) which provides for compensation and facilities to the passengers in case of denied boarding, cancellations and delays.
"The CAR is available on DGCA website www.Dgca.Nic.In. All the airlines are providing compensation and facilities to the affected passengers in accordance applicable provisions of the CAR," he said.
The carriage by air is a contractual matter between the passenger and the carrier. The complaints are filed with the airlines by the passenger. However, some passengers choose to take up the matter with DGCA, which are taken up with the airlines for redressal, he added.