Full Refund for Passengers Who Booked Flight Tickets During first two phases of Lockdown: DGCA to SC
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that tickets booked by passengers in domestic and international carriers for air travel between 25 March, 2020 and 3 May, 2020 would be refunded fully. For domestic airlines when the ticket has been booked directly by the passenger with the airline, the passenger would be able to consume...
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that tickets booked by passengers in domestic and international carriers for air travel between 25 March, 2020 and 3 May, 2020 would be refunded fully.
For domestic airlines when the ticket has been booked directly by the passenger with the airline, the passenger would be able to consume the credit shell upto 31 March, 2021. The DGCA further said in the affidavit that for all other cases, the airlines shall make all endeavors to refund the amount within 15 days.
If on account of financial distress, if the airlines are not able to do so they shall provide a credit shell equal to the amount of fare collected. This credit shell shall be issued in the name of the passenger who has booked the ticket.
For domestic airlines when the ticket has been booked through a travel agent (including OTA) by the passenger with the airline or for international travel when the ticket has been booked on a foreign carrier and the booking is ex-India, and in cases where the tickets have been booked during the lockdown period for travel within the lockdown period, in such cases full refund shall be given by the airlines immediately (this is being mandated vide MoCA’s OM dated 16th April, 2020 as the airlines were not supposed to book such tickets). This amount shall be passed on immediately by the Agent to the passengers.
On June 11, the top court had sought the Central Government’s stand & had asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to discuss the modalities involved with all concerned airlines and respond to the Court. The SG had stated that his personal opinion was that the money ought to be refunded.
The plea has been filed by Pravasi Legal Cell on behalf of Advocate Jose Abraham and highlights that the action of non-refund by airlines of the full amount collected for tickets due to cancellation is “arbitrary and in violation of the Civil Aviation Requirement issued by the DGCA.”