The Second Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Bengaluru has directed Air India to refund Rs 44,029 to a passenger whose flight from Bengaluru to London was cancelled due to COVID-19 lockdown.
While refunding the Rs 1,35,143 ticket price to the passenger Milin Jagdishbhai Parekh, the airlines had deducted Rs 44,029 as 'cancellation fee'.
The 'incidental charge' of Rs 5,000 which got deducted was also ordered to be paid back within 45 days.
The Commission's recent order came after a two-year fight by Parekh who had filed his complaint in March 2020.
Parekh had booked a flight to London in January 2020 and he was to fly from Bengaluru in April that year. However in March that year, the COVID-19 lockdown was imposed which banned all international flights.
The Air India flight he had booked on online booking portal MakeMyTrip was also cancelled. The booking website did not come to the aid of Parekh whose efforts to approach the airlines also did not yield results. He therefore lodged a complaint with the Commission.
The airlines did not bother to represent the case and an ex-parte order was passed by the Commission.
The Commission noted that the airlines had declared Parekh as a 'no-show' meaning he did not turn up for the flight and offered him an alternate ticket on another flight before September 30, 2020.
The Commission noted that Air India could not declare the passenger as a 'no-show' and deduct cancellation charges as the flight ban due to COVID was well-known.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
India, Australia Sign Deal For Air-To-Air Refuelling Of Military Aircraft Air Pollution: Early Signs Of Long-Term Health Problems To Look Out For COVID-19 Was Not A Lab Leak, Emerged From Animal Market, New Research Shows Amazon Employee Greets Friend At Wedding, Dies Of Cardiac Arrest "Speculative, Inaccurate": Canada Factchecks Own Media Over India Charge This Asian City Is Emerging As Sex Tourism Hub. It's Not Where You Think Karnataka's Golden Chariot Train Will Return Next Month: What To Expect Joe Rogan Mocks 'The View' Co-Host Who Accuses Him Of Believing In Dragons Letter Vs Letter As BJP, Congress Clash Over Manipur Crisis Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.