Passengers To Get Full Refund On Flight Tickets Booked Between March 25 May 3, Says DGCA

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has informed that airlines will provide a full refund on flight tickets booked during the first lockdown period.

Image (AFP)

New Delhi: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed the Supreme Court on Sunday that it will provide a full refunded to people who booked flight tickets March 25th and May 5th, 2020 for both domestic and international flights. The decision comes after the plea was filed seeking refunds for flight tickets. Tickets that were booked in the first two phases of the nationwide lockdown will be refunded by the airlines. In an affidavit filed in the top court by the DGCA said “If the tickets have been booked during the first lockdown period, that is March 25, to April 14, 2020, for the journeys to be undertaken in both first and second lockdown period that is from March 25 to May 3, 2020, in all such cases, a full refund shall be given by the airlines immediately (this is being mandated vide MoCA's OM dated April 16, 2020, as the airlines were not supposed to book such tickets),” according to a report by ANI. The DGCA explained that it is a violation of Civil Aviation Requirements and provisions of the Aircraft Rules of 1937 by not providing a refund of air tickets booked during the lockdown, hence the creation of an involuntary credit shell. If airlines are not able to refund the amount on account of financial distress, they shall provide a credit shell equal to the amount of fare collected and this shall be issued in the name of the passenger who has booked the ticket for domestic travel directly or through an agent including online platforms. Passengers will be given till March 31 2021 to utilize the credit to any route of their choice. However, airlines have to initiate a refund within 15 days. The Centre has also apprised the apex court that if the tickets have been booked through a travel agents during the period for travel within the lockdown period, a full refund shall be given by the airlines immediately. This amount shall be passed on immediately by the agent to the passengers.