Sleepless in New Delhi

The captain of Sunday's British Airways Flight 142 from New Delhi to London put back takeoff 13 hours because he and his crew had had a disturbed night at their noisy hotel. Flt BA142's 225 passengers had no alternative but to accept the situation and wait out the delay at the airport, although some were later sent to hotels. British Airways apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers, saying their safety was "paramount" and could not be "compromised". A crew-member on BA256 commented that "The noise in the Intercontinental over the last 2 days has been dreadful. There was a cricket match going on next door with attendant noise all day and loud music into the night. The hotel is also right next to a railway line and the hotel itself is undergoing extensive refurbishment. It was a close call as to whether the 256 was also to be delayed for the same reason as the 142." BA Country Manager/VIDP Station Manager (SM) are the in situ folks who should carry the can. Overseas SM's have the task/responsibility to ensure that crew rest hotac rules are applied i.e. the BA station manager has to check and clear for use, the allocated flight- and cabin-crew rooms. Crew hotels are also inspected by BALPA reps. prior to contracts being signed.