Airlines asked to refund fares in full, subject to conditions

Airlines will have to refund the entire fare, without imposing cancellation charges, to those who booked tickets during the first lockdown from March 25 to April 14 for travel between March 25 and May 3, the civil aviation ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry has asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to ensure airlines comply with its directive.

“Grievances were received from air travellers regarding refund for flights cancelled because of the nationwide lockdown to combat COVID19. Advisories have been issued regarding refund for both domestic & international tickets booked for the flights suspended due to lockdown,” civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Twitter.

He said for tickets booked during the first lockdown stretching from March 25 till April 14, for which payments were received by airlines, have to be refunded within three weeks of a request for cancellation from the passengers without levying any cancellation charges.

“Some carriers have opened full schedule for sale from May 4. Even if flights resume from that date, which is not certain, it is highly unlikely that full operations will resume from day one. Further flight cancellations almost inevitable, resulting in more pax funds in credit,” aviation consultancy CAPA India tweeted on Tuesday. “Passengers that have purchased tickets for the period from April 15to May 3 will once again only be offered credit for future travel, rather than a (full) refund,” it said.