Passengers bumped off Chinese airlines flight angry over offer equivalent to US$30 in exchange for giving up compensation rights

More than 40 passengers who were left behind at Shanghai Pudong Airport because the airline overbooked their flight have largely rejected an offer of just 200 yuan (HK$240) if they gave up their rights to press for compensation, state media reported.

The passengers were bumped off a China Eastern Airlines flight travelling to Beijing on Thursday morning, state broadcaster China Central Television reported.

The passengers were barred from boarding the aircraft because the airline had sold 50 more tickets than the number of available seats , the report said.

Flight MU564 departed from Shanghai at 9am on Thursday.

The airline’s duty manager was quoted as saying the incident was due a sudden change in the aircraft used on the flight, which had fewer seats. Staff did not know the number of seats differed and failed to contact passengers, he said.

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The manager asked passengers left behind to sign a declaration to give up their rights to complain and promised to compensate them 200 yuan, the report said.