Passengers to be compensated for flight delays

JEDDAH, Jan 10, 2011 (Arab News): Passengers traveling through Saudi airports will get a compensation of SR300 per hour if there is a delay in their flights, according to a new bylaw issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Article 19 of the new law, which comes into effect after 10 days.
Said airline companies have to provide hotel accommodation to passengers at a cost of up to SR3,000 daily if they cancel their flights and do not operate alternative flights.
The hotel accommodation should be provided until passengers get another flight to their destinations, the law said. "Passenger should be given a compensation of SR300 per hour, if they were not provided with replacement flight within six hours."
The GACA will have the authority to cancel licenses of airline companies operating in the Kingdom if they fail to abide by clauses of Article 19. Violators will also be slapped with a fine of up to SR50,000 for each violation.
Passengers will have the right to have cool drinks if the flight is delayed for one hour, hot meals if delayed for three hours and hotel accommodation if delayed for more than six hours.
"If a passenger of special needs is refused boarding after ticket has been issued and did not receive necessary facilities at the airport, he/she will have the right to get 200 percent of the ticket fare in addition to compensation for refusing to board the flight," the law said.

-By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS