After careful deliberations and discussions with airline companies and stakeholders, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed that passengers should be refunded the amount spent on airline tickets that were booked during the COVID-19 lockdown period. This would be for both domestic and international travels.
To many passengers who are still stuck trying to get refunds, the announcement comes as a relief.
For all other cases, the airlines shall make all efforts to refund the collected amount to the passenger within 15 days, the DGCA said in an affidavit filed in the apex court.
The affidavit also mentions that if the tickets have been booked during the first lockdown period, March 25 to April 14, with the journey date during the second lockdown period, March 25 to May 3, a full refund will be made to the passenger.
The aviation ministry has also mandated that if the airline company is unable to refund the amount within the stipulated period, it shall provide a credit shell equal to the amount of fare collected which can be issued only in the name of the passenger who has booked the domestic ticket.
Passengers can use the credit shell amount by March 31, 2021 on any route of their choice. If the next ticket costs more than the credit shell, they can pay the extra amount.