New Delhi, 13 June

A dispute between a group of visually impaired travellers and Cathay Pacific Airways at Bengaluru airport has sparked allegations of discrimination, but the airline maintained that the passengers’ failure to pay excess baggage fee in time led to denial of boarding.

The travelling group, which reached the Kempegowda International Airport on Thursday night, contained blind World Cup-winning cricketer Lokesha, and musicians Ashoka, Nam Chang Buiing, Pranay and Dadasab. They were travelling to the USA on a three-month cultural concert tour under the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled.

“Their tone and their sudden, aggressive shift in stance indicated that they believed visually impaired individuals could not navigate or stand up for themselves,” Lokesha, a partially sighted cricketer who was instrumental in India’s triumph in the 2017 T20 World Cup for the Blind, told PTI.

“Based on available records, the non-acceptance of the passengers was due to the non-completion of payment for applicable excess baggage charges within the required operational timeframe, and not to the passengers’ disability,” Cathay Pacific said in a statement.

GK Mahantesh, the Samarthanam Trust president, said the G-pay link provided by the airline accepted a maximum payment of Rs 1 lakh, but the excess fee levied by the aviation company amounted to Rs 1.12 lakh.

“We offered a credit card, but they didn't accept it,” he added.

Mahantesh said he will take the matter up with the authorities concerned, such as the Civil Aviation Ministry and national sports bodies.

“We'll go to consumer court and also take legal action against them," he said.