Over 450 Air India passengers are stranded at Paris airport with flights remaining suspended for fifth day Monday as ash clouds from an Iceland volcano
continued to wreck havoc over the vast swathe of European continent.
Another 200 passengers may add to the list if the carrier fails to operate its flight on Wednesday. These 450 passengers were to board their flights on Friday and Sunday.
Air India operates flights on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from Paris.
"Air India has not cancelled any of its flights, French Civil Aviation has closed the sky over some part of France and would have to give a green signal to operate flights," Michel Magri, AI Director (Commercial) at Paris told this PTI Correspondent, who is also stuck at Paris.
He said that it would take long to clear the backlog even if the airspace is opened on Wednesday as Air India could not deny boarding of passengers, who have booked their tickets on the flight.
"If we do, then we will have to compensate a minimum of 600 euro to each passengers as per Europe's Denial Boarding Compensation act," Magri said, adding as per Indian Law, there was no such provision to compensate a passenger denied to board an aircraft but airline has a policy to compensate such passengers a minimum of USD 250.
He said that the airline would not be able to put additional flights as the closure was already costing too for the business as they were not able to operate their flights.
The backlog would be cleared only when the sky is opened and FCA gives a green signal. Magri said that FCA would be meeting today to assess the situation.
Nearly 50,000 passengers have been stranded at Paris airport after it has been closed as volcanic plumes force close the European airspace.