Is proposal to refund air tickets confined to bookings made during lockdown, asks SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to clarify whether it is willing to give a complete refund of air tickets booked for travel during the COVID-19 lockdown.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan referred to a recent affidavit filed before it by the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) saying that tickets booked for travel during the lockdown period will be refunded.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench, also comprising Justices R S Reddy and M R Shah, that suppose a ticket was booked on March 15, that is before the lockdown period, then also full refund would be given.

However, Mehta said he would file an additional affidavit clarifying the position in this regard.

"As per my understanding, even before the lockdown, suppose a ticket was booked on March 15 for travel during the period of lockdown and the flight was cancelled, a complete refund may be given," he said.

Mehta said if a ticket was booked for travel from a foreign country to another offshore nation, then it is not in the hands of the government to refund the ticket amount.

Mehta said the proposal for ticket refund has to be approved by the Apex Court.

"Central government has taken a decision but the court has to approve it. Government has decided to refund the amount for the tickets," he told the court, adding: "We have tried to ensure that the airline also doesn't suffer."

The top court was hearing a plea which has raised the issue of air ticket refund owing to cancellation of flights due to COVID-19 induced lockdown which had commenced from March 25.

The Apex Court has posted the matter for hearing on September 23.

The DGCA, in its affidavit filed recently in the top court, has said full refund shall be provided by airlines immediately for tickets booked during the COVID-19 lockdown for domestic or international travel within the lockdown period.