KOLKATA: With coronavirus outbreaks all over India, PM Modi had announced a pan-India lock-down from March 23rd. Now, the Civil Aviation Ministry has directed airline companies to refund entire fares to those who had tickets, booked, for flights from 25th of March to 3rd of May. The ministry has also entrusted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to make sure that airlines comply with this directive.
Today, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted, “Grievances were received from air travellers, regarding refunds for flights cancelled because of the nationwide lock-down to combat COVID-19. Advisories have been issued regarding refund for both domestic & international tickets booked for the flights suspended due to lock-down.”
Minister Puri stated that for tickets booked during the first lock-down from 25th of March till 14th of April, for which payments were received by airlines, refunds have to be offered, within three weeks of a request for cancellation from passengers, without levying any cancellation charges. Moreover, no exceptions are to be made, for tickets booked for travel during the extension till 3rd of May, he added.
Senior civil aviation officials met with airline officials, on Wednesday, to discuss the issue of tickets, for flights from 15th April, that were being sold in advance, during lock-down.
Aviation Consultancy firm, Capa India tweeted, on Tuesday, that some carriers have opened full schedule for sale from 4 May. Even if flights resume from that date, which is not certain, it is highly unlikely that full operations will resume from day 1. Further flight cancellations almost inevitable, resulting in more pax funds in credit. “Passengers that have purchased tickets for the period from 15 April to 3 May will once again only be offered credit for future travel, rather than a (full) refund,” it added.
Analysts have stated that the aviation sector is badly affected as the revenue loss is estimated at $1-1.5 billion per month, during lock-down. Additionally, they have have forecasted that airline fares are going to increase, as much as 50%, post-lock-down.