Frequent flight delays have pushed passengers’ patience to their limits, and conflicts between passengers and airlines are not an unusual sight. While some passengers remain calm, some are taking extreme measures.
3 out of 10 flights in the country were delayed in 2011. Yet many passengers receive no explanation, even after waiting tens of hours.
Over 40 passengers refused to get off a flight without an apology from Air China for a 4 hour delay in a flight to Dalian.
Kong Yan, head of cabin crew, Air China, said, "On behalf of Air China, I give my apology to all passengers onboard for the delay." Sometimes a simple "sorry," is enough. The apology was accepted peacefully.
But staff from Shenzhen Airlines failed to put a lid on a similar situation. After a 20 hour delay, conflict broke out between their furious passengers and airport police. 5 policemen were injured.
And just 3 days ago, 20 passengers rushed onto the taxiway after being outraged by a 16-hour delay. According to China’s Civil Aviation Law, passengers disturbing the order of a civil airport can be prosecuted for a criminal offence. But instead of being punished, each of the 20 passengers has received 1000 yuan in compensation from Shenzhen Airlines for "mental damage".
According to an online survey by Sina Weibo, China’s biggest microblog, 70 percent of netizens sympathize with such passengers. Yet legal experts are sounding the alarm. They say such deals could end up encouraging such irrational behavior.