Indian airlines asked not to sell tickets before final decision on lockdown

The country is currently in the midst of a nationwide lockdown until May 3 to control the spread of the coronavirus

Indian police officers wearing protective gear patrol the streets of Mumbai amid the coronavirus lockdown. India's Aviation Ministry has asked airlines not to sell tickets until a final decision is made on the lockdown. EPAShow less

India's aviation ministry has asked airlines to take travel bookings only after a final decision on the lifting or easing of restrictions on domestic and international flights is announced.

“The Ministry of Civil Aviation clarifies that so far no decision has been taken to open domestic or international operations,” minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in a tweet late on Saturday.

It wasn’t immediately clear if it was a binding order or an advisory for the country's aviation sector.

The country is currently in the midst of a nationwide lockdown until May 3 to control the spread of coronavirus infections.

India had initially announced a 21-day lockdown until April 14 and airlines had started selling tickets for flights before an extension until May 3 was announced last Tuesday.

There has been no clarity so far if flights, especially to international destinations, will be allowed even when the lockdown is lifted.

Airlines are now selling domestic and international tickets for flights starting from May 4.

National airline Air India said on its website on Saturday that it had opened bookings on selected domestic routes from May 4 and international ones from June 1.

Most airlines have offered credit instead of refunds for flights cancelled due to the travel curbs as the ticket sales provide them with much-needed cash flow at a time when all other sources of revenue have dried up.

Passengers worldwide are fighting against that practice, including in the US, and some governments have ordered airlines to refund passengers without charging a cancellation fee.