Passengers are seen at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC in this file photo by Vietnam News Agency. Airlines are rushing to cope with the rising demands for refunds, postponements and cancelations of flight tickets as Covid-19 has reemerged - PHOTO: VNA

HCMC - Airlines are rushing to cope with the soaring demands for refunds, postponements and cancelations of flight tickets as the reemergence of Covid-19 is scaring off travelers.

Hoang Mai from Thu Duc City, HCMC told Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper that she had just been refunded the money for her Vietnam Airlines flight tickets on the HCMC – Hanoi route on May 5 because more Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed in Hanoi.

“I bought the tickets so that I could attend my relative’s wedding back home but because of the current outbreak, the wedding has been postponed. I asked for a refund and switched to a voucher for booking tickets within a year. The cash refund will be available in the next three months,” Mai said.

Many others have also cancelled plans to go home, on business trips or on vacations with family and loved ones to locations such as Danang, Nha Trang and Hanoi.

Customers have also contacted tour operators to delay their departures in May. Various tour operators said that no one has been contacting them for information on new tours.

On May 6, Vietravel Airlines implemented solutions to support passengers amid the Covid-19 reemergence.

Those affected are mainly independent travelers who bought tickets for flights to affected or isolated areas scheduled from May 5 to 20, passengers awaiting their test results, those who tested positive for Covid-19, passengers under treatment for Covid-19 and those affected by lockdowns or traveling restrictions implemented by authorized local authorities. These passengers have been offered one free change of flight date/itinerary.

A refund is offered free of charge to passengers with tickets that meet the refund conditions. The money will then be refunded to the accounts of agencies or passengers within 30 days. As for passengers who need to change flight dates/itineraries, this change must be made at least four hours prior to the new leg’s departure.

In the case of group inclusive tours, cancellations/changes must be notified 72 hours prior to the first leg’s departure. Particularly for flights from Hanoi, Danang or areas declared to be affected by Covid-19, passengers will receive free refunds according to current regulations and the money will then be refunded to the accounts of agencies or tour operators within 30 days.

Similarly, Bamboo Airways will also be applying refund regulations to all cases that qualify for refunds or reservations. Prior to that, Vietnam Airlines’ Southern branch also announced its policies to assist domestic passengers affected by Covid-19.