Category Archives: Aviation

Qantas and Jetstar have introduced greater flexibility for customers wishing to change their travel plans, following increased travel restrictions being implemented by various governments around the world due to the evolving Coronavirus situation. These changes apply to all domestic and international flights for Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar (including Jetstar domestic services in New Zealand and Jetstar Asia’s flights between Darwin and Singapore). EXISTING BOOKINGS Customers with existing bookings on any domestic or international flight until 31 May 2020, who no longer wish to travel, can cancel their flight and retain the value of the booking as a travel credit voucher. This needs to be processed by 31 March 2020. Travel credit vouchers can be used for travel on any domestic or international flights. Qantas and Jetstar will waive the change fee once customers are ready to rebook. For Qantas customers, travel credit can be redeemed for travel for up to 12 months from the original booking. For Jetstar customers, travel vouchers can be redeemed in one booking only within 6 months of issue, for travel within 12 months of new booking date. Qantas Frequent Flyers who have booked classic redemption flights on Qantas, Jetstar and all partner airlines, and no longer wish to travel, will have change fees waived. NEW BOOKINGS To provide customers with greater flexibility and confidence when they book, customers who make a new domestic or international booking and later decide they no longer wish to travel, can cancel their flight and retain the value of the booking as a Qantas travel credit or Jetstar travel voucher. This applies to bookings made from 10 March 2020 until 31 March 2020 for travel before 31 May 2020. This …

Ryanair recently has announced the suspension of its full flight schedule to/from and within Italy, following the decision of the Italian Government to “lock down” the entire country to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. These additional cuts will be implemented as follows: From 24:00hrs Weds 11 Mar until 24:00hrs Wed 8 Apr, Ryanair will suspend all Italian domestic flights. From 24:00hrs Fri 13 Mar until 24:00hrs Wed 8 Apr, Ryanair will suspend all Italian international flights.   All affected passengers have received email notices today informing them of these flight cancellations. Passengers looking for repatriation can obtain a free move to an earlier Ryanair flight operating up until midnight Fri 13  Mar. Affected passengers will be able to choose between a full refund or a travel credit that can be redeemed on Ryanair flights in the next 12 months. Ryanair continues to comply fully with WHO and national Government guidance and travel bans. The situation is changing on a daily basis, and all passengers on flights affected by travel bans or cancellations, are receiving emails and are being offered flight transfers, full refunds or travel credits. Ryanair apologises sincerely to all customers for these schedule disruptions, which are caused by national Government restrictions and the latest decision of the Italian Government to lock down the entire country to combat the Covid-19 virus.

Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister (I/C), Civil Aviation, said that the civil aviation industry has ushered in a new era of expansion, driven by factors such as Low Cost Carriers (LCC’s), modern airports, FDI in domestic airlines, advanced IT, and our growing emphasis on regional connectivity. Speaking at ‘WINGS INDIA 2020’ in Hyderabad today, Shri  Hardeep Singh Puri said, “We are at a point where we need to bring aviation turbine fuel under GST and by and large there is acknowledgement from across states to make it happen.” He further added that the current situation arising out of Corona Virus is a challenge, especially for the civil aviation sector. “It is personally being monitored and directed by the Prime Minister and his office. Within hours of the first evidence becoming available we had started screening passengers coming in from 12 most affected countries. We then increased it to include screening of passengers coming in from any country across the world. Our airports constitute a benchmark for how airports should be running across the globe, specially the 30 airports where proper screening is already in place. We have screened 10,876 flights coming in from across the globe that include 11,71,061 passengers, 3,225 of these passengers required further screening. I am sure that once people get the right perspective, know where we are, look at the recovering numbers, we will not only overcome this challenge, but will see robust vibrant growth in the civil aviation sector.”

In a recent mailer of IndiGo airlines, the airline has- “Here at IndiGo, the safety and health of our passengers, and of our employees, has always been our highest priority. I wanted to help you understand everything we’re doing as an airline to make sure that the risk for everyone in our care is minimised, and that you can continue to rely on us to help you reach your destinations safely and in good health, while also helping to contain the spread of COVID-19. At every stage of your journey with IndiGo, we’re taking every measure possible to ensure compliance with the best advice from medical authorities and the government. The ground staff you meet at our international terminals – at check-in counters and boarding gates – will be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appropriate for their role. This gear may include masks, gloves, and shoe covers which are appropriately disposed of at regular intervals. The crew on all aircraft are following personal protective measures as well. Crew members aboard international flights wear PPE – as a mandate – that is changed every 8 hours. And because this disease is most easily transmitted through surfaces, each and every aircraft is cleansed with cleaning agents and disinfectants that are approved by the WHO and Airbus. Areas that are most often touched – tray tables, arm rests, overhead nozzles, lavatories, galleys – are paid particular attention to. On all international flights, we use a disinfectant used to sterilise surgical equipment in hospitals, to clean the cabin and cockpit. This is followed by a thorough fumigation.We have especially taken note of aircraft that have arrived from affected areas and have disinfected each one …

Ethiopian Airlines has updated health advisory on COVID-19. Rebooking policy: Change fees are not applicable to tickets issued anytime for travel from March 1 2020 onwards till June 30. If there is a difference in airfare o applicable taxes, due to the reissue or rerouting of the ticket, the additional amount will need to be collected. Customers can change the booking to travel on or before December 31, 2020. Refund Policy: Full refund is authorised for travel dates, between March 1 and 30 June 2020. Refund can also be made free of charge by issuing a voucher of equal amount to be used within one year or issue. If voucher latter required to be refunded to cash, it can fully be refunded to cash, it can be fully refunded till 31 Dec 2020. Tour code for all above waivers: HDQ409B Rerouting Policy’ Rerouting is permitted applying the applicable differences in fares, fees and taxes.  

In a recent mailer, Somon Air has said, “Somon Air is temporarily suspending its operations from Delhi until further notice. However, we are operating a flight on 15th March 2020 and  any Indian or Tajik nationals who want to avail direct services can book the tickets at our office. After the situation is normalised the flight operations will start again.”

Due to outbreak of COVID-19 situation, tickets issued on SriLankan Airlines will be eligible for one free date change as per the condition below: Tickets issued on or before March 31 2020. Ticketed to travel for any date. Irrespective of cabin /journey type/fare type/fully utilised or partially utilised . Fare difference may apply Ticket endorsement” PR006/26JAN20″ All date or flight changes to be finalized by 31st May 2020. No-show fees shall apply for tickets with the suspended coupon status if pax do not attend to travel, inform pax to cancel reservation as early as possible. Cancellation/refund Refund is permitted with the applicable charges (Please refer the fare rule)

Commercial Policy Bulletin by Virgin Atlantic states below: Eligibility only for passengers with an original ticket issue date from 04 March 2020 to 31 March 2020 inclusive Original Travel Date                                    Affected Destination   04 March 2020 – 30 September 2020        VS issued tickets from/to/through All Destinations when travelling on a VS/VS* Flight Number Permitted Travel Period Travel can be rebooked 03 March 2020 – 30 September 2020 Applies to VS and VS* tickets issued between 04 March 2020 and 31 March 2020 inclusive To assist VS/VS* passengers impacted by the global health concerns of the Coronavirus Future Travel Rebooking Options: 1. This policy entitles passengers to one change with the change fee waived only 2. This policy applies regardless of the flexibility of the ticket – for example where a booking is made in Light, this policy will grant one change with the change fee waived, even if typically the booking would be non-changeable 3. When rebooked travel occurs on or before 30 September 2020 the change fee will be waived if ticket is reissued on or before 30 September 2020, though fare difference will apply on the new itinerary, regardless of booking class. If the new quoted fare is lower than the current ticketed fare no refund will be applied 4. No refunds are permitted as part of this policy Class to Class Rebook: Rebooked flights must be in the same booking class that the customer was originally booked in. Example: Customer originally booked in T, new itinerary must be booked in T. Rebooking to JV partners is allowed Class …

Following the implementation of Visa restrictions by India government due to the Corona virus outbreak, Kenya Airways has cancelled flights between Nairobi and Mumbai with schedule change between March 17 and April 15. FOR WHOLLY UN-UTILISED TICKETS Full refund is allowed for KQ210/KQ211 only for travel dated March 17- April 15 2. Refund application should be submitted on or before March 31 2020. 3. endorsement while refunding: Cancellation of KQ(Flight NBR)/ Date FUTURE ITINERARY CHANGES Customers can change to a flight of equal or lesser value with no change fee . If the new fare is of lesser value, there is no refund or residual of the fare difference. If the new ticket is a higher fare, the customer only pays the fare difference

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Company today announced the decision to postpone the launch of service to Bengaluru, scheduled to start during the summer schedule of 2020. Note 1 – Customers holding a reservation will be contacted by a company representative. Note 2 – Launch date will be determined based on the status of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)