From August 1, pay less for flight ticket cancellations

From August 1, all airlines and carriers will not be able to charge additional for cancellation of tickets more than the basic fare plus fuel surcharge.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Come August and fliers will have a good reason to smile.

From August 1, the new norms that caps ticket cancellation charges and bars airlines from levying additional amount for refund process are coming into force.

This means that airlines and carriers will not be able to charge additional for cancellation of tickets more than the basic fare plus fuel surcharge.

Under the revised norms, carriers would have to indicate in an "unambiguous manner" the amount of refund admissible on cancellation of a ticket.

"Under no circumstances, the airline shall levy cancellation charge more than the basic fare plus fuel surcharge," aviation regulator DGCA said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also made it clear that airlines cannot levy additional charge to process the refund.

The move would come as a relief to air passengers against the backdrop of many carriers hiking the cancellation charges in recent times.

Coming out with the fresh set of rules, the watchdog said carriers should refund all statutory taxes and User Development Fee (UDF)/Airport Development Fee (ADF)/Passenger Service Fee (PSF) to the passengers in case of "cancellation/ non-utilisation of tickets/no show".

"This provision shall also be applicable for all types of fares offered including promos/special fares and where the basic fare is non-refundable," the DGCA said.

The changes were first proposed by the Civil Aviation Ministry in June as part of putting in place passenger friendly measures.

These norms would be effective from August 1, according to the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) issued by DGCA chief M Sathiyavathy on Tuesday.

To ensure more transparency, carriers would be required to indicate the refund amount in case of ticket cancellations.

The amount and its break-up may be indicated on the ticket itself or through separate form used for the purpose. Also, the policy and amount of refund shall be displayed by the airlines on their respective websites, DGCA noted.

Further, passengers can choose whether the refund money should be kept in the airline's credit shell or not.

"Airline shall not levy any additional charge for correction in name of the same person, when error in his name spelling is pointed out by the passenger to the airline after booking of his ticket," the regulator said.

With PTI Inputs