More than 300 disputes between passengers and airline companies have been reported during the past two months since China’s top aviation administration issued the flight-delay compensation guidelines at the end of June.  

Statistics from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) show that punctual flights in July accounted for only 75.89 percent, below the set goal of 80 percent. Ironically, the rate of punctual flights in June was 82.2 percent.

One of the two main reasons that have caused flight delay is the frequent rainfalls in summer; the other is passengers’ unreasonable ways of dealing with such disputes. In some cases, passengers refused to get off their planes. Delays caused by the latter account for 50.8 percent of the total, according to the CAAC analysis.

The guidelines were issued for improving scheduled flights and protecting passengers’ interest. In practice, however, the result seems to be not as good as it has been expected.

Disputes between passengers and airlines emerge everyday. When they are not satisfied with the compensation plan, some passengers would stay seated in their planes and refuse to alight for hours; some would even block the runway. Consequently, more flights are delayed.

It is estimated that more than 2.5 million people will travel by air during the current weeklong National Day holiday. To help handle the holiday surge of passengers, CAAC will increase 10 percent, or 400 regular flights. Besides, airline companies are authorized to add a total of 2,400 temporary flights during this travel peak.

While airline companies are making efforts to improve their services, passengers are also expected to handle disputes more reasonably. In the end, of course, the law will have its say.

(China.org.cn by Wang Zhiyong, October 2, 2004)