Air India to refund for cancelled tickets during Covid-19 lockdown

NEW DELHI: Air India Limited will initiate refunds without levying cancellation charges to passengers who missed their flights during the lockdown period, the state-owned airline said in a communication to its travel agents on Monday.

This is a first of its kind in Indian aviation industry as most airlines have only given the option of rescheduling tickets at no extra costs to their passengers for their flight tickets during the lockdown period starting 23 March.

"Any traveler holding Air India affirmed tickets with movement dates during the lockdown time frame ie 23 March 2020 to 31 May 2020 and have had their flight dropped will be permitted to book in accessible trips for the period 25 May 2020 till 24 August 2020 at no additional charge," the



aircraft said including that if there should be an occurrence of discounts, cancelation charges will stand postponed and travelers will be qualified for full discount. 

The Indian government had grounded departures from 25 March to contain the spread of covid-19. A few people who had just reserved tickets for movement during the lockdown time frame needed to drop their arrangements because of lockdown. Local flights administrations were continued from 25 May, but in an adjusted way.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation had in April said that airlines will have to refund full fares, without imposing cancellation charges, to those who booked tickets during the first lockdown from 25 March to 14 April for travel between 25 March and 3 May.