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Denied boarding amid Dubai floods: Emirates, Yatra ordered to pay Rs 1.88 lakh

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Raghav Jain and his wife were denied boarding in New Delhi for an April 2024 trip to Milan via Dubai after transit restrictions took effect without advance notice. Because neither Emirates nor Yatra offered timely alternatives, the couple spent over Rs 2.13 lakh on emergency tickets with Saudia Airlines, receiving only a small partial refund. The commission dismissed the airline's appeal, ruling that disruptions had started days earlier on April 14 and required individualized passenger alerts. The final directive orders full coverage of the net fare difference alongside interest and litigation costs.

Key points

  • General website or social media advisories are insufficient to absolve airlines of direct…: General website or social media advisories are insufficient to absolve airlines of direct passenger communication during weather disruptions.
  • Travel portals and operating carriers remain jointly liable to ensure consumers are infor…: Travel portals and operating carriers remain jointly liable to ensure consumers are informed and fairly compensated for abrupt cancellations.
  • Advance operational disruptions noticed days earlier legally mandate timely individual al…: Advance operational disruptions noticed days earlier legally mandate timely individual alerts to spare travelers severe financial strain and inconvenience.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

NEW DELHI: The Chandigarh state consumer commission has upheld an order holding Emirates Airlines and travel portal Yatra Online liable after a man and his wife were denied boarding on a flight to Italy during floods in Dubai. The commission found that the passengers were not informed about the disruption in advance or offered alternative arrangements. It upheld directions to the companies to pay Rs 1.88 lakh and Rs 10,000 towards compensation and litigation costs.

In its order dated October 28, 2026, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, dismissed Emirates Airlines' appeal against the district commission's order dated May 4, 2026, holding both companies jointly and severally liable.

Why were passengers denied boarding?

According to the commission order, Raghav Jain, a Chandigarh resident, booked tickets for himself and his wife through Yatra Online for travel from New Delhi to Milan via Dubai on April 19, 2024. Their return journey was scheduled from Thira, Greece, to New Delhi via Dubai on May 10. He paid Rs 1,45,384.99 for the booking.

Jain alleged that when they reached Delhi airport on April…

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