Aviation Ministry asked all airlines to refund full fares to their customers without imposing any cancellation charges during the lockdown from 25 March and 3 May 2020. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Thursday.
Union Government had banned all international flights from March 22 and domestic airlines from March 25 to check the spread of coronavirus in the country. However, most of the airlines except Air India continued to take bookings for domestic flights for the period beyond the first phase of the lockdown on April 14.
Due to COVID-19 lockdown, most of the Indian private airlines are nearly bankrupt now, are unable to pay salaries to its employees and to give refunds to those who booked flights during the lockdown period due to a severe liquidity crunch. they are asking passengers to utilize the money paid for flying anytime within one year.
After several consumer groups had raised complaints, now the government ordered all private airlines the ticket booked at the same time, for travel during the second lockdown, should be fully refunded without imposing any cancellation charges.
Published: Hindustan View 16/04/2020