Mumbai consumer rights body to seek clarifications on DGCA affidavit over air ticket refunds in Supreme Court
A week after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) informed the Supreme Court that airlines will give full refunds to passengers who booked tickets during the first and second lockdown, which had to be cancelled due to Covid-19, consumer body Mumbai Grahak Panchayat (MGP), also party to the plea, will be seeking clarifications on certain pointers mentioned in the aviation regulator’s affidavit. The hearing of the plea is scheduled for Wednesday morning.
According to MGP, senior citizens should not be asked to use credit shells, and airlines should not ask passengers to pay the fare difference and instead be allowed to fly on the original ticket price till March 2021. A credit shell is an open ticket, issued when an airline holds on to the booking amount in the form of credit.
“On the whole, the proposal of the civil aviation ministry is welcome as it tries to harmonise and balance the interest of both passengers and the airlines. There is, however, a need for further relief. The ministry must direct that senior citizens need not use this credit shell.
