Domestic Flight Cancellation and Rescheduling: What Airlines in India are Offering Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak

Close of the heels of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asking airline companies to waive off domestic flight cancellation and rescheduling fees for travelers, almost all airlines in India are offering some respite to customers. The decision has been taken due to flights getting curtailed, canceled and disrupted almost on a daily basis due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Several customers who have booked their flights before the Coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation now want to avoid domestic travel as well. “I have booked 2 tickets of 22nd march but now I am scared due to coronovirus, I have heard that Covid spread on airport and in flight. Can you please refund my full amount Please,” says Balwan Singh on Twitter.

“I have an itinerary by the end of this month, but seeing the current Corona epidemic would like to cancel the same. Kindly initiate a full refund for the same,” says Mehak Khurana. Airlines are also reporting a high volume of calls in their call centres and a large number of queries on social media regarding the same. However, the airlines have already announced what they are offering to customers on domestic flight cancellation and rescheduling.

Here is What Airlines in India are Offering on Domestic Flight Cancellation and Rescheduling

IndiGo

IndiGo has waived off fees for rescheduling the tickets. For any new reservation that customers make on or before 31 March 2020, they can reschedule their journey multiple times, without paying any change fee. However, the fare difference if any will be applicable, and the changes have to be made at least 3 days prior to the travel date.

“Booking date: On or before 8th March, 2020

Travel date: On or before 31st March, 2020

1. You can reschedule your journey multiple times for travel before March 31, 2020 without paying any change fee.
2. You can reschedule your journey only once for travel beyond March 31, 2020 without paying any change fee,” says the IndiGo website.

Air India

Here is what Air India has tweeted on domestic flight cancellation and rescheduling charges:

“In view of Coronavirus situation and travel advisory issued, One Free Change permitted for pax to postpone any international or domestic bookings on AI Network on all existing bookings with travel date till 30th April '20, & on new bookings till 31st March '20. Tickets must be re-issued on or before 31st May, 2020. In the case of re-routing, the applicable difference of fare will be charged. Passengers are requested to contact our customer care number for further assistance.”

GoAir

The Wadia owned airlines had initially offered free cancellation; however, the same is no longer applicable. The airlines now offers free rescheduling till April 30 for all travel in March and all new bookings till September 30. For travels in March rescheduling can be done 3 days prior to the travel date, and for travels beyond March rescheduling can be done 14 days prior to the date of travel. Consumers will have to pay any fare difference if applicable.

Air Asia

Air Asia is extending free rescheduling on all domestic network flights for travel till 31 March 2020. Rescheduling can be done t any date and the waiver applies only to the first rescheduling that is done 3 days prior to the date of travel.

SpiceJet

SpiceJet too is not charging any rescheduling fees for any travel between 12 and 31 March 2020. However, any fare difference will be applicable.