Airlines wary as refunds deadline looms

Air India is struggling to refund passengers for tickets booked during last year’s nationwide lockdown as the cash-strapped national carrier battles the twin effects of higher fuel prices and low passenger traffic.

Private airlines SpiceJet Ltd and Vistara meanwhile said they are complying with the Supreme Court’s orders on fare refunds.

Last September, the apex court directed airlines to immediately refund fares booked for travel until 24 May 2020. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had separately issued a notification on 16 April, ordering airlines to immediately refund tickets booked during the first phase of the lockdown from 25 March to 14 April.