Airlines must give full refund for flight bookings during lockdown period: DGCA

The Deputy General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Thursday that those who have booked airline tickets for days between March 25 and April 14 are eligible to claim a full refund within three weeks’ time from the date of request of cancellation. In addition, no cancellation charges will be levied on these bookings, said the DGCA.

For people who made airline bookings for days between April 14 and May 3, after cancelling their tickets for a date between March 35 and April 14, the DGCA has enabled them to claim a full refund without any additional cancellation charge. The refund, however, has to be claimed within three weeks’ time following the date of request of cancellation.

These developments come 48 hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an official announcement to extend the 21-day nationwide lockdown which began on March 25 and was due to end on April 14, 2020. The lockdown has now been extended to May 3 in light of the rise in the number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases across India. As of April 16, the infection has claimed the lives of 414 patients.

Several private airlines in India have issued statements regarding the suspension of domestic and international services till a time when the situation improves. However, no statement hinting at airlines resuming services before May 3, 2020, has come to light as of yet. In addition to airlines, inter-state bus services and pan-India passenger trains have also been halted to contain further spread of Covid-19.