New Delhi: Air passengers have a reason to smile as the revised norms that caps ticket cancellation charges and bars airlines from levying additional amount for refund process are coming into force from August 1.
"Cancellation amount not to exceed basic fare plus fuel surcharge; all statutory levies and taxes to be refunded under all circumstances," Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said on Wednesday as he announced that the new cancellation norms for fare refund would become effective from August 1.
The move would come as a relief to air passengers against the backdrop of many carriers hiking the cancellation charges in recent times.
The regulator 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," DGCA noted.
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.
In a tweet, Raju said the process of refund would be completed within 30 days even when booked through travel agents or online portals.
"Cancellation charges to be clearly displayed on every ticket. The policy to be prominently displayed on the website of the airline," Raju said in another tweet.
No charges can now be levied by airlines for corrections in errors of names of the passengers, he added.
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