Tigerair’s clash with the Indonesian aviation authority has left passengers stranded in Bali or travellers not sure whether their future flights will go ahead. So, what is behind the chaos and how will it affect travel plans.
According to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Tigerair’s sale of one-way flights from Bali to Australia broke its charter rules, resulting in the airline being grounded. The move threw the travel plans of thousands of Australians in Bali for the traditional summer holidays, as well as those planning to travel over the coming weeks and months.
In order to get passengers home, Tigerair was granted a reprieve, on the understanding that no passengers would be allowed on board the aircrafts returning to Bali. Virgin Australia, Tigerair’s parent airline, has also sent flights to help bring people home.
Tigerair has been summoned to explain its actions, with DGCA spokesman Agoes Soebagio telling ABC News, “If Tigerair insists it is innocent we’ll let them prove it, and whether they deliberately broke the rules, that will be investigated”. Meanwhile, Tigerair insists that the regulation regarding one-way tickets is a new administrative requirement and hopes that a resolution can be found by 20 January.
Tigerair has removed from sale flights between Australia and Bali until 25 March and will refund passengers who have had their flights cancelled as a result of the issue. However, for those who have also paid for accommodation, there may be no way to claim this money back. Refunds will be dependent on the terms and conditions applied at the time of booking and those hoping to claim from their travel insurance may be disappointed.
According to CHOICE, the issue of refunds due to disputes is a murky one. While some insurers will provide additional travel and accommodation expenses to get you to your destination, it is unlikely you will receive a full refund if you have to cancel your trip. Also, you will nee to have purchased travel insurance before any of the issues arose and most insurers would expect you to claim compensation from Tigerair first. You should contact your insurer for clarification before cancelling your trip.
Read more at ABC.net.au
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