A new law states that international airlines will need to pay out millions of baht if passengers die in-flight. Delayed flights and damaged luggage could also result in compensation. Read the following story from the Bangkok Post to learn more about the new act.
International airline will be forced to pay compensation of up to 5 million baht to the next of kin of passengers who die in-flight under the new International Air Carriage Act 2015, deputy permanent secretary for transport Woradech Hanprasert said.
IMMEDIATE MEASURE
Woradech said on June 6 that details of the act have been published in the Royal Gazette which means it takes effect immediately.
The law was drafted to deal with compensation demand from passengers and relatives in cases where airlines are at fault. Previously, Thai authorities had to deal with such issues through aviation regulations and no specific legislations existed.
Woradech said airlines have to develop rules and regulations in accordance with the new law.
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
Every airline normally has regulations to protect passenger rights which includes compensation packages for passengers.
Under the new act, up to five million baht will be paid out for passengers who die or are injured on board international flights, Woradech said, adding that passengers can also file a lawsuit to get additional compensation from airlines.
The law will provide better assistance to passengers and their relatives athey previously had to make personal injury or death claims themselves, Woradech said.
OTHER DAMAGE
Under the act, airlines will also be responsible for people affected by delayed flights and loss or damage to baggage and carry-on luggage. These items are deemed as coming under the supervision of airlines during the flight and check-in process.
However, airlines will not have to pay compensation if they can prove they have implemented measures to tackle such problems, or if the losses were unavoidable.
The new law covers international airlines in Thai airspace and Thai-registered airlines anywhere in the world. The act uses the so-called Special Drawing Rights (SDR) valuation to determine how much each compensation case is worth.