Turkish passenger forces UzAirways to account for health and hygiene lapses

The Turkish citizen filed a complaint with the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Uzbekistan against Uzbekistan Airways, citing unsatisfactory service during the Ankara–Tashkent flight.

According to the complaint, the airline failed to provide a special gluten-free meal that was essential to the passenger’s health.

Additionally, the complaint noted that the aircraft’s sanitary and hygienic conditions did not meet required standards – the passenger’s seat still had trash left over from the previous flight.

“The passenger had informed the airline in advance about their health condition when purchasing the ticket, and the airline had guaranteed the provision of the special meal on board. However, on the day of the flight, this condition was not met,” the committee’s statement said.

Following a service inspection initiated through a formal inquiry to Uzbekistan Airways JSC, the Anti-Monopoly Committee confirmed the passenger’s claims. It was found that the special meal had not been delivered by the catering service at Ankara airport.

As a result, to compensate for the moral and material inconvenience caused to the passenger, the airline decided to upgrade the passenger to business class on their next flight.

Furthermore, the consumer protection authority stated that additional oversight measures would be introduced for ensuring proper sanitary conditions inside aircraft cabins.