Muscat: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued regulations for the protection of passenger rights based on Royal Decree No 65/2006 and the executive regulations of the Civil Aviation Law.
The regulations aim to update rules and improve the experience of both inbound and outbound travelers to and from the Sultanate of Oman.
In a recent statement, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that the new regulations encompass 62 articles detailing the rights and obligations of both passengers and air carriers.
The passenger rights were issued after several discussions and consultations conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority with government agencies, the private sector, and relevant organizations.
In case, a flight is delayed while the passenger is in paid accommodation, the air carrier shall bear the cost of the accommodation extension until the alternative departure time. As per Article 20, If the flight is delayed for less than six hours, the passenger has the right to care and support by the provisions of these regulations. The air carrier shall be responsible for any financial costs incurred by the passenger due to this delay, by the provisions of the Montreal Convention.
Article 21 states that if a flight is delayed for more than six hours, the passenger has the right to demand compensation from the air carrier as per the flight cancellation provisions stipulated in these regulations.
Article 22 states that when the air carrier notifies the passenger of the cancellation of the international flights within a period not exceeding 14 days from the scheduled time of departure, the air carrier shall explain to the passenger his rights to care and support, offer the passenger the available alternative flights, and pay the passenger a compensation equal to RO108 for all flights with a distance not exceeding 1,500 km, RO173 for all flights with a distance between 1,500 and 3,500 km and RO260 for all flights exceeding 3,500.
The air distance between the departure airport and the final destination airport is taken into account when calculating the distance to determine compensation.
Article 23 states that the passenger has the right to terminate the contract of carriage upon cancellation of the flight and non-acceptance of the alternative flight and refund the value of the travel ticket for the unused sector, including any additional fees he has paid, without prejudice to the passenger’s right to compensation as per Article 22.
No compensation shall be provided if the passenger is informed about the cancellation of the international flights at least 14 days before the scheduled time of departure. The passenger has the right to an alternative flight or to terminate the contract, and the air carrier is exempted from providing care and support.
The termination of the contract of carriage shall result in a refund of the unused sector, including any additional fees paid by the passenger to complete the reservation, such as seat selection fees, and baggage.
Article 25 states that the air carrier must inform the passenger about the cancellation of a specific sector of a connecting flight and the passenger may request to reschedule the flight or to terminate the contract, and compensation shall be made for it under the provisions for canceling flights stipulated in these regulations.
Article 26 states that no compensation shall be offered in the event the passenger is offered an alternative flight to the final destination thereof, provided that the time of arrival to the final destination does not exceed the previously scheduled time by more than two hours.
Article 27 states that the air carrier shall be liable for damages resulting from the diversion of international flights to an alternative airport other than the destination agreed upon in the contract of carriage by the terms and conditions of the Montreal Convention.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
