Airlines should refrain from booking tickets from 4 May: DGCA

Hyderabad: In the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directed all airlines to refrain from booking tickets after 4 May. Earlier, the civil aviation ministry had announced that all domestic and international flights have been cancelled till 3 May after the government had extended the lockdown.

In the circular released on 19 April, the DGCA said, “There was no direction/clearance which allows the airlines to start ticket bookings for the journeys to be undertaken with effect from 4 May. Further, it has been noted that airlines have started booking tickets for journeys with effect from 4 May."

The civil aviation ministry further stated that no decision to commence the operation of domestic and international flights with effect from 4 May has been taken yet. “Airlines may note that they shall be given sufficient notice and time for restarting of operations,” the DGCA maintained.

Meanwhile, the DGCA has directed all airlines to give a full refund on airplane tickets booked during the COVID-19 lockdown. In a statement released on 16 April, the DGCA maintained that the airline should refund the complete amount without levying any cancellation charge. This is applicable to passengers who booked a ticket during the first lockdown period, i.e. from 25 March to 14 April, as well as the second lockdown period from 15 April to 3 May.