Small Goa terminal delays flights: Airlines

In Goa, a small terminal means that security checks often cannot be completed by the time of boarding, say domestic airlines fighting not to pay compensation to passengers forcibly denied boarding due to overbooking of flights and massive delays.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) had last month slashed fines for this to a maximum of Rs 4,000, from a maximum of Rs 12,000 originally proposed. DGCA's hopes that the airline industry would find these low fines more acceptable were dashed, with airlines raising objections that they could not alone be held responsible for delays.

The airlines pointed out that ATC delays and an infrastructure crunch at Mumbai, fog delays in Delhi, and lack of infrastructure in Goa were things beyond their control, which they could not be fined for. A meeting has now been called to hear them out. Airlines may be correct in pointing out the infrastructure crunch, but informed sources said they were unwilling to pay fines because of their poor financial health.

Even the biggest carriers are not able to pay for their oil and airport dues.
Last summer, DGCA prepared a draft civil aviation requirement about "facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines due to delay, denied boarding and cancellations".