Mangaluru consumer court directs Air India Express to refund special equipment handling fee to consumer
A consumer court in Karnataka ordered Air India Express to refund a special handling fee and pay compensation after the airline failed to properly handle a passenger's expensive sports equipment. The airline argued that standard baggage protocols were sufficient, but the court ruled in favor of the consumer.
Why it matters
This ruling reinforces consumer rights in the aviation sector, specifically regarding the accountability of airlines for paid special handling services.
Holding mishandling by Air India Express crew of a special equipment booked by a Sullia taluk-based consumer as deficiency of service, the Dakshina Kannada District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed the airline to refund ₹2,000 that it had taken from the consumer as special equipment handling fee.
In addition, the airlines was told to pay a compensation of ₹20,000 towards deficiency of service, mental agony and inconvenience, and ₹5,000 towards cost of litigation, to N. G. Sushanth, a resident of Hariharapallatadka in Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka.
Mr. Sushanth travelled in an Air India Express flight from Chennai to Mangaluru on July 27, 2025. He had paid an additional ₹2,000 as special handling fee for his sporting equipment worth ₹3 lakh that he brought from Chennai.
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