Air travel aggregators start giving refund

New Delhi, April 18

Following the government direction, the online air travel aggregators have started giving refund to passengers who booked tickets between March 25 and April 14 for their travel plan between April 15 and May 3. Taking the first move in this direction, travel aggregator Easy Trip Planners (“EaseMyTrip”) has started refunding the money in cash to the customers from the company’s own account during the time of nationwide lockdown due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

As per the prevailing practice, online travel aggregators had to deposit advance amounts with the airlines, including Indigo, SpiceJet, Go Air, Air Asia against which they issue air tickets to aggregators for further booking by end users.

The airlines have now been providing money in the virtual wallet of travel aggregators, which does not reflect directly on their bank accounts, said an official, adding that aviation sector is a cash flow business and the airlines are not able to refund directly to customers.

Nishant Pitti, Co-founder and CEO, EaseMyTrip, said “We are very much concerned to take this necessary step to provide refund in the form of cash to the customers in the hour of need.” — TNS