Chennai, Sep 8 - Air passenger service should be brought under Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) so that a carrier or its employees do not leave passengers in the lurch.

'Air travel has become an essential part of people's life. It is time the government brings air passenger service under ESMA so that travelling public are not taken for a ride by the airlines and their employees,' said Hiren Bhaskar Shah, national secretary of the Air Passengers Association of India (APAI).

The Chennai-headquartered association has over 4,000 members and has chapters in major cities.

He said his association had made the suggestion to the civil aviation ministry in 2005.