Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued detailed guidelines regarding refund on cancellation of air tickets during Covid-19 lockdown.
The official circular comes days after Supreme Court (SC) directed that a full and immediate refund should be given to passengers for the air tickets cancelled between March 25 and May 24, 2020. No domestic passenger flights operated in India during in this period.
Based on the SC order, DGCA has divided passengers into three categories:
- Passenger who booked tickets during lockdown for travel during lockdown i.e. from March 25, 2020 to May 24, 2020.
- Passengers who booked tickets any time prior of lockdown but journey up to May 24, 2020 and cancelled due Covid-19.
- Passengers who booked ticket anytime but for journey after May 24, 2020.
As per the directive, passengers belonging to the first category must be given a full refund by the concerned airline for the tickets cancelled.
For customers falling in the second category, DGCA has asked airlines to “make all endeavours” to refund the passengers within 15 days. “If on account of financial stress, any airline/airlines are not able to do so, they shall provide a credit shell equal to the amount of fare collected (to the passenger),” reads an official statement.
The passengers can use the credit shells to book any ticket by March 31, 2021.
Those belonging to the third category, refund will be given in accordance with the civil aviation requirements.
Further details on the refund can be accessed here.
