Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Passengers who booked flights during lockdown entitled to immediate refund, DGCA tells SC

New Delhi: Passengers who booked flight tickets during the Covid-19 lockdown shall be entitled for immediate refund of the fare by the airline, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) told the Supreme Court.

In an affidavit submitted before the apex court Monday, the DGCA asserted that the “airlines were not supposed to book such tickets”.

The affidavit was filed on behalf of the central government and the DGCA after the Supreme Court on 9 September had asked the government to clarify whether it is willing to provide complete refunds of air tickets booked for travel during the Covid-19 lockdown.

All forms of travel, including flights, were halted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown on 24 March. Therefore, most airlines at the time had placed passengers in a credit shell. A credit shell is an open ticket through which a passenger can travel within the next seven months to one year.

Flights began operating in the country in a calibrated manner, two months later, from 25 May.

According to the submission, the passengers who booked tickets prior to the lockdown till up to 24 May would also get a refund through its credit shell and incentive scheme.

For tickets booked at any time for travel after 25 May, the DGCA said that the refund will be governed by the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).

According to the submission, the passengers who booked tickets prior to the lockdown till up to 24 May would also get a refund through its credit shell and incentive scheme.

22/09/20 Apoorva Mandhani/Print

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