Flight tickets booked during lockdown to be fully refunded: DGCA informs SC

The Central Government in an affidavit filed has informed Supreme court that full refund will be made for all tickets booked during the Covid-19 lockdown of 25 March to 3 May, 2020. The Centre while referring to the ticket booked during the lockdown stated that “non- refund of fares/creating involuntary credit shell by the airlines would be in violation of the aforementioned Civil Aviation Requirements and passenger charter which may result in initiation of enforcement action for violation of CAR and also as per the provisions of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.” Directorate General of Civil Aviation filed the affidavit in compliance of the 12 June apex court order. The affidavit states that about four meeting took place in July under the Chairpersonship of Secretary Civil Aviation through Video Conferencing to discuss issues relating to refund of air fare by airlines The representatives of Go Air, Air India, Air India Express, Vistara, Indigo, Air Asia and Spicejet were also a part of this meeting. from 25th of March, 2020 to 3rd of May, 2020, in all such cases, full refund shall be given by the airlines immediately The Centre also said “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. “The airlines shall refund the full amount in case of travellers who have since expired to the account of the passenger or to his representative.” The credit shell shall be transferable.