Here are the guidelines for refund of airline tickets booked during the lockdown period issued by the DGCA

• Indian Aviation regulator DGCA has issued detailed guidelines for the refund process of the flights cancelled between March 25 and May 24.
• The DGCA has characterised passengers seeking a refund of tickets in three different categories.
• Here are the detailed guidelines for all passengers, whose flights were cancelled during the lockdown.

Six days after the Supreme Court directed airlines to give a full and immediate refund to passengers for the flights cancelled between March 25 and May 24— Indian aviation regulator DGCA has issued detailed guidelines for the refund process.

The apex court on October 1 had also passed directions about the refund and credit shell formation for the bookings and cancellations done during the other time periods around the lockdown.

The DGCA has characterised passengers seeking a refund of tickets in three different categories:

• Passengers who booked tickets between March 25 and May 24 for travelling within the same period.
• Passengers who booked tickets prior to March 25 but the travel period was till May 24.
• Passengers who booked tickets anytime — even before the pandemic hit — but for a journey after May 24.

These are the guidelines for the passengers who booked tickets between March 25 and May 24 for travelling within the same period.

• The regulator said the passengers belonging to this category must be given a full refund by the concerned airline for the tickets cancelled during the lockdown period within the period of three weeks from the date of cancellation.
• If the travel agent booked the tickets, the refund should also go to the travel agent, and the agent should immediately pass it on to the passengers.

These are the guidelines for the passengers who booked tickets prior to March 25 but the travel period was till May 24.

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the airlines should "make all endeavours" to refund the passengers belonging to this category within 15 days. The air regulator said if any airline is not able to do so on account of financial stress, they shall provide a credit shell equal to the amount of fare collected (to the passenger).
• DGCA said the credit shell should be transferable, with the provision to be utilised up to March 31.
• In case passengers have purchased the airline ticket through an agent, a credit shell is issued in the name of the passenger. Such a credit shell is to be utilised only through the agent who has booked the ticket.

These are the guidelines for the passengers who booked tickets anytime but for a journey post-May 24.

• Those belonging to the third category will be given a refund in accordance with the existing ministry of civil aviation rules, details of which can be found here.
  

SEE ALSO: These seven airlines have ceased operations in India over the past decade — Here's a quick look

Relief for passengers who cancelled air tickets during the lockdown — Supreme Court accepts DGCA recommendations