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No decision yet to commence operation of flights from April 4, airlines must refrain from booking tickets: Govt

Flights were earlier suspended from March 24 to April 14 as PM Modi announced a 21-day lockdown over the coronavirus last month.

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Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday (April 19) notified that no decision has been taken regarding the resumption of passenger flights from May 4, a day  when the government lifts lockdown extensions.

It issued circular for all airlines asking them to refrain from booking tickets. 

'It is brought to the notice of all that no decision to commence operation of domestic/international flights with effect from 4th of May 2020 has been taken yet,' astatement by DGCA read.

"In view of this, all Airlines are hereby directed to refrain from booking tickets as described above. Further airlines may noted that they shall be given sufficient notice and time for restarting of operations," it added.

Meanwhile, the government on Thursday said that that people who had booked air tickets during the first phase of lockdown for travel up to May 3 will get a full refund from the airlines and no cancellation charges will be deducted.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued a circular regarding the matter.

"If a passenger has booked a ticket during the first lockdown period, and the airline has received the payment for booking of air ticket during first lockdown period for travel during the second lockdown period, for both domestic and international air travel and the passenger seeks a refund on cancellation of the ticket, the airline shall refund the full amount collected without levy of cancellation charges," the circular said.

The ministry further said the refund must be issued to the passengers within a period of three weeks from the date of the request for cancellation. 

All domestic and international commercial passenger flights have been suspended during the lockdown period. Due to this, the revenues of airlines have decreased drastically. As a result, the airlines are not refunding the money. Instead, they are issuing credit vouchers worth the passenger's booking amount that can be used for booking another flight during the next one year.

Flights were earlier suspended from March 24 to April 14 as PM Modi announced a 21-day lockdown over the coronavirus last month.

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