Air4All, new aeroplane seating system by PriestmanGoode holds hope for air travellers with reduced mobility to stay in their wheelchairs during entire travel.

Dear Colleagues,

This is so great to hear that PriestmanGoode has designed a aeroplane seating that allows air travellers to stay in their electric/ powered wheelchairs and travel with dignity. 

Unveiled as 'Air 4 All-, an aeroplane seating system that will allow powered wheelchair users to remain in their own wheelchairs for the entire journey. Developed by PriestmanGoode in a consortium with campaign group Flying Disabled and aircraft safety company SWS Certification, the concept is designed for commercial flights and is currently being developed into a prototype.

The concept design looks like a standard airline seat, but the bottom flips up when required to make room for a wheelchair, with a guide track to help position the chair and an attachment system that securely fixes it in place. The best thing is, the seats function as regular airline seats, if there is no wheelchair that require access. 

Picture: PriestmanGoode says Air 4 All will allow airlines to give powered wheelchair users equal access to safe, comfortable and dignified air travel, while letting the companies retain their seat count.

"The biggest barrier in the past has been that giving greater space to passengers in wheelchairs would have reduced seat count and resulted in a loss of revenue for airlines," said PriestmanGoode chairman Paul Priestman.

"Air 4 All solves this problem and has the added benefit of enabling airlines to retain the design of their cabin on every seat, ensuring brand consistency and a cohesive brand experience for all passengers," he continued.

"Air 4 All will facilitate a smoother boarding and disembarking experience for PRMs [passengers with reduced mobility] and will also significantly reduce the number of wheelchairs that are damaged through poor handling."

PriestmanGoode's vision is for Air 4 All to work similarly to the Isofix/LATCH standards for child safety seats in passenger cars, with various wheelchair models becoming certified for flying. Both the airline seats and wheelchairs will need to be fitted with the consortium's patented installation and attachment system for Air 4 All to work.

Another partner on the project, wheelchair manufacturer Sunrise Medical, will undertake the task of creating powered wheelchairs that are fit to fly, as well as retrofitting old models. Eventually, the system will be opened up to all airlines and wheelchair manufacturers.

"In the same way that child seats for cars can be made by many different manufacturers and used on any type of car, our aim for Air 4 All is that it's universal," Priestman told Dezeen. "At PriestmanGoode we design many trains, trams and buses and for all these modes of transport there are strict requirements to provide positions to allow people to travel on board whilst seated in a wheelchair."

"It is wrong that currently onboard aircraft there is no such provision," Priestman continued. "I believe the Air 4 All system has provided a solution that will at last correct this and allow wheelchair users to travel as they should like everybody else."

The prototype of Air 4 All is expected to be ready in December 2021. The initial design is for a narrow-body aircraft with two rows of two seats. It converts the front-row seats and creates a capacity for up to two wheelchairs per row.

PriestmanGoode says it is working with a subsidiary of a major airline to bring the product to market, and the long-term vision is to extend the system to other modes of travel such as rail and metro.

Flying Disabled founder Chris Wood has been campaigning for accessibility in aviation since 2015 and said the consortium was "actively working with all the necessary parties" to ensure its solution was harmonised and fit for purpose.

"Air 4 All is the first system that has been developed jointly by a design agency, a certification body and with input from the disabled community," he said. "With a leading global wheelchair manufacturer as well as the subsidiary of a major airline on board to develop the product, it's a truly collaborative project."

PriestmanGoode is an industrial design studio specialising in transport design. Among its other recent concept designs is an autonomous taxi modelled on London's Brutalist architecture and a pandemic-proof aircraft passenger cabin with dirt trap-free surfaces.

Our take:- For this project to be a success and its quick adoption by the stakeholders particularly the airlines and the users-groups, the consortium has to ensure that the cost of certified model of the powered wheelchair remains affordable so that maximum users can adopt this and airlines find it a win win situation. 

The success of this project is therefore hidden in maximum flyers with reduced mobility adopting the certified wheelchairs, else the airlines will end up continuing the present system in light of legal requirements. The Governments could also come forward to support travellers with disabilities/ PRMs with subsidies. In addition, the airlines could also think of partnering with frequent fliers and support them with this technology since adoption of this would definitely bring gains to all the parties.

The other issue is, whether onboard accessible toilets can accommodate the current wheelchair on the toilet seat. Without this facility, it would be difficult to claim full accessibility and dignity to the flyers with reduced mobility and this definitely can't work for long haul flights.

Source: Dezeen dot com

Civil Aviation Ministry issued Draft guidelines to ensure ease during air travel for disabled people - Business Standard

The Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday issued draft guidelines for aviation sector stakeholders such as airlines and airports to ensure disabled people can travel at ease

NEW DELHI : The Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday issued draft guidelines for aviation sector stakeholders such as airlines and airports to ensure disabled people can travel at ease.

Actor and dancer Sudha Chandran had last week, in a video posted on social media, narrated her ordeal of how she was made to remove her prosthetic limb every time during a security check at any airport.

According to the draft guidelines, airport operators must make special arrangements to facilitate screening of persons with special needs so that the process is carried out efficiently "keeping the dignity and privacy of the passenger in mind".

During the screening of prosthetics, the airport security -- which is handled by the CISF at most of the airports -- might use X-ray, explosive trace detection devices or visual checks according to their requirement, it mentioned.

The passenger -- who has a prosthetic limb -- will first pass through the door frame metal detector and should then be taken to a private screening point and made to sit comfortably, it noted.

This passenger will then receive additional screening including a pat-down, the draft guidelines said.

"A prosthetic appliance which does not have any foam padding cover under which any weapon or explosive can be concealed and in which the steel rod of the appliance is clearly visible may be screened by visual inspection and ETD checks only, without removing it."

However, in rare cases, where there is sufficient justification including profiling of the passenger, X-ray screening may be resorted to, it stated, adding the justification for subjecting a prosthetic limb to X-ray screening shall be recorded by the screener in a register.

Prosthetic appliances that are covered in foam padding and in which the steel rod is not visible must undergo X-ray screening, it mentioned.

The draft guidelines also said that passengers who have external devices including insulin pumps, hearing aids, cochlear implants, spinal stimulators, bone growth stimulators and ostomies will not have to disconnect them for X-ray screening.

Under most circumstances, a passenger can conduct a self-pat-down of these devices followed by ETD screening of his or her hands, it added.

Disabled passengers should inform the airline about their complete requirement 48 hours before the scheduled departure so that the carrier can make necessary arrangements, it mentioned.

If a passenger wants to check-in their wheelchair at the airport, the airline must ensure that the wheelchair is duly taxed and sent to the baggage make-up area with a service partner to avoid any damage, it noted.

Passengers should check with the airline on the specific requirements of bringing service animals on flights. A low floor coach or a ramp should be used for comfortable boarding or debarring of wheelchair users, the draft guidelines mentioned.

"Airlines should ensure that a disability awareness training is conducted for new hires and ensure periodic refreshers are conducted for all staff to reiterate policies and standard operating procedures on customer assistance with different types of disabilities," it mentioned.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has given three weeks for people to send their comments and suggestions on the draft "Accessibility Standards and Guidelines for Civil Aviation", after which final guidelines will be issued.

Source: Business Standard 

CISF issues apology after Sudha Chandran shares airport ordeal due to her prosthetic limb

After actor and dancer Sudha Chandran shared her ordeal at the airport due to the ‘grilling’ that was conducted because of her prosthetic limb, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has issued an apology on social media. They have promised that they will look into the matter and will “examine why the lady personnel concerned requested Ms. Sudhaa Chandran to remove the prosthetics.”

Responding to Sudha’s complaint where she also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CISF wrote, “We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience caused to Ms. Sudhaa Chandran. As per protocol, prosthetics are to be removed for security checks only under exceptional circumstances.”

They added, “We will examine why the lady personnel concerned requested Ms. Sudhaa Chandran to remove the prosthetics. We assure Ms. Sudhaa Chandran that all our personnel will be sensitised again on the protocols so that no inconvenience is caused to travelling passengers.”

In an Instagram video shared on Thursday, Sudha Chandran shared that every time she travels for her professional assignments, she is grilled by the security agencies. Despite her request to the airport authorities to conduct an ETD (Explosive Trace Detector) for her artificial limb, they ask her to remove it every time. Sudha Chandran lost her leg in an accident. But she returned to acting and dancing with a prosthetic limb.

The actor also urged PM Modi to issue a card to people with prosthetic limbs just like senior citizens who are issued a card. “Good evening, this is a very personal note that I want to tell to our dear Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, this is an appeal to the central government, I am Sudhaa Chandran, an actress and dancer by profession, who has danced with an artificial limb and created history and made my country very proud of me,” she said in her post.

“But every time that I go on my professional visits, each time, am stopped at the airport and when I request them at the security, to the CISF officers that please do an ETD (Explosive Trace Detector) for my artificial limb, they still want me to remove my artificial limb and show it to them. Is this humanly possible, Modi ji? Is this what our country is talking about? Is this the respect that a woman gives to another woman in our society?” she asked.

Sudha Chandran is a popular face on Indian television. She became a household name after playing the role of Ramola Sikand in Kaahin Kissii Roz. She has been a part of Ekta Kapoor’s hit TV show Naagin as well.

Source: Indian Express 

A woman Kolkata Professor and a wheelchair user raises a disability discrimination complaint against Air India

Dear colleagues, 

Ms. Priyanka De, an assistant professor who teaches philosophy at Presidency University and who also happens to be a wheelchair user due to cerebral palsy, has alleged harassment before and during travel on the national carrier 'Air India' recently. 

Air India, while regretting the inconvenience she had faced, refused to alter its position on the issues. Ms. De, flew from Kolkata to Delhi by Air India on February 17 and returned by the same airline on February 25. Prior to travel, she had a trying time availing of a concession that the airline offers to persons with locomotor disability. Discounts under various categories, including students and the ones in Armed services, can be availed while purchasing tickets online. But Ms. De, who is a wheelchair user and a person with benchmark disability was unable to avail of the discount online. It was only when she escalated the issue with the Prime Minister’s Office that the airline reached out to her and took the necessary documents over mail to approve the 50% discount on basic fare. 

The issue underlines the ordeal faced by passengers with disabilities when they are forced to personally visit the airlines office to book a concessional ticket while other categories of passengers to whom concessional tickets are allowed, can do so online. This is a systemic issue and even Indian Railways practiced this until the High Court of Delhi came out heavily on them to allow seamless system to avail online concessional ticket booking as available to other concessional categories. 

She narrated, “On my return, I wrote to the airline, asking it to ensure that others with similar disability get the discount while purchasing tickets online at a time when Covid is on the rise. But in its reply, the airline has expressed its inability to do so without physically verifying the extent of disability at the airline’s city or airport counter. Why can’t a passenger upload the disability certificate at the time of purchasing the ticket and show it at the time of travel.”

Airline has no reason to ask flyers with disabilities to  physically verify the extent of disability at their counter - in the city or at the airport. This is a salt on the wound and an outright discrimination on the grounds of disability as prohibited by section 3 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. There is no written word in the law or in DGCA CAR or any other advisory to support this discriminatory practice.

Ms. Priyanka De also faced another challenge during the return journey. She was not allowed to carry her fold-able wheelchair in the cabin, despite the airline website clearly stating that collapsible wheelchair and pair of crutches or braces for passenger use, if dependent on these, are allowed in the cabin.

“I have a narrow wheelchair that is collapsible to enable movement in flight and other confined spaces. It is helpful for use in the washroom. But on the afternoon of February 25, the flight crew refused to allow the wheelchair and wanted to stow it away in the belly cargo hold. When I pointed out that I could not use the washroom without it, the crew asked me to go to the toilet after the flight landed. It was inhuman,” she expressed in a Times of India article. 

The airline pointed out that the space constraint in the narrow body aircraft had prompted the crew to stow it in the cabin bulk head after taking permission from the flight commander. “Efforts were made to put the chair in the overhead cabin but since it could not fit there, it was shifted to the alternative storage space,” said an airline official.

It is pertinent to mention that the DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirement on Carriage by Air of Persons with Disabilities provides as below :-

"4.1.1    No airline shall refuse to carry persons with disability or reduced mobility and their assistive aids/devices, escorts and guide dogs including their presence in the cabin, provided such persons or their representatives, at the time of booking, inform the airline of their requirement(s). The airlines shall incorporate appropriate provisions on their website within three months from the date of issue of this CAR, so that while making bookings, passengers with disability have the option to select the required facilities, which he/she will require during the journey."

Limitations of the aircraft, if any should be informed to the passengers so that they can make an informed choice. The National carrier is expected to be a role model, however, it seems there is lack of awareness and sensitisation among the staff on the subject. The DGCA CAR also provides for training of the staff in section 4.3. Specific sections are as below: 

"4.3.3  The operators shall ensure that all its employees are imparted disability-related basic training and refresher training at appropriate interval. 

Note: Disability related training provides practical overview and is relevant in particular to those providing assistance to persons with disability or reduced mobility. It increases understanding of the whole range of impairments so that personnel are aware of how to interact with persons with disability or reduced mobility and to tackle negative perceptions and attitudes towards such passengers.

4.3.4   In addition to basic training, operators should provide specific training for personnel who may be required to provide direct assistance to persons with disability and/or persons with reduced mobility

4.3.5  Operators shall ensure that adequate training is provided to all its service providers, ground handling agencies and sub-contractors responsible for providing assistance services

4.3.6  It shall be the responsibility of airport operator to ensure that security staff positioned at airport undergoes disability-related training

4.3.7  Airlines shall ensure that cabin crew safety and emergency procedures training is combined with disability awareness training for assisting persons with disability or reduced mobility in the cabin environment."

Way forward

The airline needs to reinforce training and sensitisation of its officials on a regular basis in compliance of DGCA CAR referred above so that such issues do not crop up. Airline should also provide advance information to customers about the size and limitation of the aircraft especially in cases of narrow body aircraft being deployed on domestic sectors to allow the users to take an informed decision about their travel.  The airline should immediately stop the practice of insisting physical verification of disability for booking concessional tickets. Persons with disabilities are to be provided same online facility of booking of tickets as available to other categories of travelers. For this purpose, airline could insist on adding the reference number of the identification document. In this era of technological advancement, it is easier to cross link identity documents so that the users are not harassed or discriminated on the basis of disability. Govt. of India has undertaken numerous efforts to ease the life of persons with disabilities and promote their inclusion in all walks of lives, let these incidents not mar the spirit of sabka saath, sabka vikas and sabka vishwas!

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Air India's subsidiary Alliance Air plane denies a person with disabilities boarding with motorized wheelchair

Name of Discriminating Airlines:  Alliance Air plane (Air India)
Flight No. : Air India (AI 9623). Flight time: 03.35 PM (Mumbai to Diu)

Date of Incident: 15 Feb 2021,
Airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, India
Persons Travelling: Siddharth Mhatre (with wheelchair) and Kevin Karani

Brief: A passenger travelling with motorized wheelchair, despite booking his seat a month in advance and having provided all the information related to travel and disability, was denied boarding him with his battery wheelchair saying it was more than the prescribed 15 kg check in baggage limit by 45 kg. The argument of the airline that the ATR aircraft is small in size unlike the bigger jets with a capacity of only 70 seats thereby limiting their weight carrying capacity doesn't hold any water, especially when they were ready to accept the same wheelchair at a huge cost @INR 630 per kg. 

The case highlights following concerns:

a) Non-implementation of DGCA's CAR on Carriage by Air of Persons with Disabilities.

b) Inadequate information provided by the airline about the aircraft and its size of cargo hold and maximum sizes that it can take so that the passenger could take an informed decision.

c) Complete non-cooperation from the airlines and creating uncertainties in the air travel schedule of the passenger with disabilities.

d) Complete lack of timely grievance redressal mechanism and compensation policy.

e) The airline's argument that motorized equipment such as Ambulift cannot be used because of safety limitations on ATR aircraft, is against the stated policy of DGCA on accessible boarding in the aircrafts, whether through the boarding gates, on the tarmac through ambulift or towable ramps. 

Series of events on 15 Feb 21, as shared by the passenger:

• 01.40 PM: Passengers reached Terminal-2 of CSI Airport, Mumbai.

• Siddharth was travelling on his own motorised wheelchair and upon reaching the airport, decided to obtain Airport’s wheelchair and let the motorised wheelchair get pass through the security scanner first.

• Airport’s wheelchair was not available at Airport Gate so they searched for Air India’s “Help Desk” to obtain Airport’s wheelchair. Unable to find any “Help Desk” they go to Air India’s ticketing counter to get help. AI’s ticketing staff somehow managed to connect with AI’s ground staff inside the airport and got Airport’s wheelchair to escort Siddharth Mhatre.

• 02.00 PM:  Both passengers reach check-in counter to get the Boarding Pass and check-in their luggage and wait in the queue for their turn.

• 02.10 PM: After observing Siddharth Mhatre’s condition AI’s staff at check-in counter denies to issue him boarding pass. One of the AI’s staff even asks Siddharth to show them if he can stand-up on his crutches and walk.

• 02.15 PM: Unable to stand-up immediately, AI’s ground staff takes a negative stance and completely deny to get Siddharth on board.

• We immediately question why Siddharth can’t be boarded. Our travel agent had specifically mentioned at the time of booking the ticket about Siddharth’s disability, his wheelchair requirement and assistance of AI’s staff to get him on board. 

• The ticket was booked well in advance (1 month prior on 07-Jan-2021). The Travel agent had also confirmed with AI’s customer care about Siddharth’s disability and requirement for co-operation and assistance for flight boarding.

• Siddharth had even sent an email on 11-Feb-2021 to AI’s customer care (contactus@airindia.in) seeking co-operation for boarding the flight and permit him to carry his Motorized wheelchair. It was acknowledged by Air India’s customer care team on the same day.

• So we get on call with Travel Agent who booked our ticket and ask him find a solution as AI’s ground staff was clearly denying to get Siddharth aboard. Co-passenger Mr. Kevin and the Travel agent speak with AI’s ground staff for solution.

• 02.25 PM: AI’s ground staff somehow agree to get Siddharth on-board but seek a “Declaration Letter” from Siddharth that if anything happens to him while boarding the flight, Air India is not responsible for the same and they shall also immediately off-load him from the Airplane. We submit the “Declaration Letter” with Siddharth’s signature on it.

• 02.30 PM: We again proceed for check-in and boarding pass issuance. AI’s ground staff now comes up with new problem and denies Siddharth to travel on his Motorized wheelchair (which was clearly mentioned from start, even in the email sent to AI’s customer care). We were asked to put his motorized wheelchair in check-in luggage. The weight of Siddhartha’s motorized wheelchair exceeded the weight limit given to each passenger for their luggage. It exceeded the limit by 45kgs.

• AI’s ground staff demanded Rs.630 per kg extra to get his motorized wheelchair on board. The calculation came to Rs.630 x 45kgs =  Rs.28,350/-. This was too much amount demanded.

• Siddharth’s  motorized wheelchair was his extension to have mobility and not his separate luggage, we denied to pay the amount and asked for solution. AI denied to take any responsibility.

• 02.50 PM: It was already too late because of all the non-cooperation from AI’s ground staff. They wasted a lot of time, first they completely denied to on-board Siddharth and then they denied to on-board his wheelchair. The gates to board the flight were about to close. They also gave Kevin Karani warning to run and reach the boarding gate or else he’ll be also be off-loaded from flight.

• 03.00 PM: It was all panic situation created by AI’s staff for Siddharth and Kevin. Kevin had to literally run to the boarding gate to get into the flight and unfortunately Siddharth had to miss his flight.

• Siddharth had to then travel by road for non-stop 15 hours to reach the destination as it was an important event which he was not supposed to miss.

Despite a confirmed ticket, having shared the accommodation requirements one month in advance and constantly being in touch with the Air India and having shared the details of the wheelchair etc. no one from the Air India bothered to inform the passenger about the size limitations of the aircraft. It was a violation of the commitment that the airlines made to the customer. There was complete lack of  co-operation from Air India at the time of boarding the flight. The passenger was left stranded at the Mumbai CSI Airport as his accompanying friend was taken in the flight. The passenger had to suffer all the inconvenience and difficulties to reach his destination. The physical strain and mental trauma that the passenger was subjected to due to the uncertainties created by the airlines service can't be explained.

After all the hullabaloo in the media, the airline did refund  his ticket fare, but has not either accepted its fault nor seem to have rectified the system to inform and passengers about the size of the aircraft, size of the cargo hold, weight and size of the electric wheelchairs that it can accommodate, reasonable accommodation provided to the passengers with disabilities, grievance mechanisms procedure etc. The  uncertainties of being able to travel put the passengers with disabilities at a psychological disadvantage, remain in fear, accept what is offered to them and make compromises - even sign all kinds of indemnity  forms etc that are forced on them against the norms, DGCA's CAR etc. Asok Kumar Committee addressed these issues in its detailed consensus report that still remains to be implemented in true letter and spirit by the stakeholders such as airlines, aerodrome operators and the Civil Aviation Security systems.

Below is the report published by media 5 days after the incident.   

Differently-abled allegedly denied boarding with motorised wheelchair in Air India's subsidiary Alliance Air plane  (News source: Mumbai Mirror )

Feb 21, 2021

Due to eleventh hour fiasco, Siddharth Mhatre was forced to travel by road for 18 hours

In an alleged incident of discrimination, a 32-year-old differently-abled person was denied boarding the national career Air India's subsidiary Alliance Air, along with his motorized wheelchair at the last moment.

The incident took place on February 15, 2021 when he arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to travel to Diu to attend a wedding ceremony of his close friend scheduled for the next day.

Siddharth Mhatre, who works in facility management and is a resident of Dadar, says that the incident not only caused him mental and physical trauma but forced him to make an overnight journey by road.

"The negligence on part of the airlines took place even when tickets were booked a month ago and the travel agent had informed them about his physical condition, wheelchair requirement, and assistance for flight boarding in advance not once, but multiple times," alleges Mhatre.

Upon reaching the airport along with  is friend with whom he was travelling, Mhatre had let his motorised wheelchair get past the security scanner first, but little did he know what would follow soon after.

"I approached the ticketing counter to get airport’s wheelchair after we failed to find Air India's 'Help Desk'. The ticketing staff managed to connect him with the airline's ground staff inside the airport and got the airport’s wheelchair. However, when we reached the check-in counter to get the boarding pass and check-in our luggage, the airline staff at the check-in counter denied him a boarding pass," says Mhatre.

The passenger also alleged that one of the staff members even asked him to show them if he could 'stand-up' on his crutches and walk.

Mhatre's friend Kevin Karani, who was traveling with him also questioned the staff as to why Mhatre couldn't board the flight when the travel agent had specifically mentioned at the time of booking the ticket about his disability and requirement. He also made the travel agent speak with the airlines' ground staff to find a solution.

Later, the ground staff somehow agreed to get Mhatre on-board but not before seeking a 'declaration letter' which they got him to sign.

Mhatre says that the declaration letter stated that if anything were to happen to him while boarding the flight, the airline would not be held responsible for the same and they would also immediately off-load him.

However, the problem was far from over when they again proceeded for check-in and boarding pass issuance. The staff denied him permission to travel on his motorized wheelchair and asked to put it with his check-in luggage and demanded charges.

"The airline ground staff demanded Rs 630 per kg extra (Rs 28,350) to get his motorized wheelchair (45kg) on board. We decided we would not pay the amount and asked for a solution, however, the airline staff denied taking any responsibility."

In this process, Mhatre's friend who was accompanying him was asked to run and reach the boarding gate and was threatened to be off-loaded from the flight if he did not make it in time.

Speaking to Mirror Online, Mhatre's father Dr Sanjay demanded action against the discriminatory behavior due to which his son had to undergo severe mental trauma and added that his son is 80 per cent physically challenged and the motorized wheelchair was his extension to have mobility and not a separate piece of luggage.

Following the whole fiasco, Siddharth had to then travel by road for 18 hours to reach the destination to attend an important event which he did not want to miss.

In response to Mirror Online questions, the airline said that ATR aircraft boarding steps are part of the fuselage with a capacity of a single person boarding at a time. In this type of aircraft Motorized equipment such as Ambulift cannot be used because of safety limitations and only one person boards at a time in the aircraft as a safety limitation.

"On humanitarian grounds after requests from passenger and his aide we agreed to accept the passenger. The aide also offered to help the passenger to board the aircraft. As per policy, we do offer a free weight allowance of 15 kgs for a wheelchair which is over and above the free check-in & cabin baggage. However, since the overall weight of the baggage and wheelchair was beyond the free permitted allowance, hence excess baggage amount was requested from the passenger which he did not agree to pay."

The airline further added that the ATR aircraft is small in size unlike the bigger jets with a capacity of only 70 seats thereby limiting our weight carrying capacity.

"Declaration letter was taken in the best interest of the passenger and safety precautions. We believe that everyone deserves smooth, uncomplicated service and this sorry situation led to the passengers' alteration of travel plans. We convey our deepest regret for any inconvenience caused and our endeavor is always to work towards becoming the most needs-friendly airline as we have displayed in the past and will continue in the future."

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