Kingfisher starts refund process

Our Bureau Updated - April 13, 2012 at 08:50 PM.

kingfisher

Finally some good news for Kingfisher Airlines' passengers who have not been able to get their tickets refunded.

The cash-strapped airline has now started processing refunds for completely or partially unutilised tickets issued till March 8 this year. Confirming the development, travel agents told Business Line that the link will be open for three weeks till May 3.

The breakthrough is said to have come due to the consistent follow up with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Kingfisher by industry bodies like the Travel Agents Association of India. With this breakthrough, passengers' requests for refund can be channelised through the travel agents with whom they booked their tickets.

Passengers faced trouble in getting refunds for tickets after Kingfisher was suspended from the IATA Clearing House system. However, in a statement on March 14, the airline said that this suspension was because of a freeze on its IATA accounts by tax authorities.

Some travel agents had told Kingfisher travellers that they should assume that all tickets purchased for flying with the airline were non-refundable when it was suspended from the IATA Clearing House system.

Shishir.s@thehindu.co.in

Published on April 13, 2012 15:20