Mandate on COVID-19 Airfare Refunds

Mandate on COVID-19 Airfare Refunds

VoM News Desk | November 8, 2023 | 09:40 PM IST | Travel | Follow on Google News

Mandate on COVID-19 Airfare Refunds

Mandate on COVID-19 Airfare Refunds

The Indian government has issued a mandate to online travel agencies, instructing them to complete the pending refunds for air travel bookings that were disrupted due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The lockdown, which started on March 25, 2020, led to the suspension of scheduled commercial flights, causing numerous cancellations and consequently, a substantial backlog of refunds owed to consumers.

Resolution of Travel Refunds and Consumer Grievances

During a meeting with online travel portals, led by Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh, the pressing issue of non-refunds for tickets booked during the lockdown was addressed. The decision was taken to expedite the process, with a clear deadline set for the end of the third week of November. In an effort to bolster consumer rights, the idea of establishing an Ombudsman for the swift resolution of consumer grievances was also discussed, hinting at a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Department of Consumer Affairs to work out the specifics.

Enhancing Consumer Complaint Resolution

The meeting also proposed the integration of the National Consumer Helpline with the Air Sewa Portal. This move is aimed at improving the efficiency of resolving consumer complaints, ensuring that grievances related to air travel during the pandemic are adequately and promptly addressed.

VoM News Desk

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