New Delhi: Over 100 passengers have availed the benefit of IRCTC's offer of flight tickets against waitlisted train ticket since the launch of this scheme.
The flight tickets were offered by IRCTC was of budget carrier GoAir.
IRCTC spokesperson Sandip Dutta said that Railway PSU has tied-up with GoAir and is in talks with some other airlines as well.
“We have also entered into an understanding with SpiceJet under the scheme and plan to rope in other domestic carriers too,” Dutta said.
However, the scheme applies to tickets booked at least three days prior to the date of the journey. The flight tickets would be made available only for the day of the train journey or a day after that.
IRCTC would be sending e-mails to waitlisted passengers who seek to avail the benefit under the scheme. Passengers booking train tickets right from sleeper class to AC classes can avail the facility, Dutta said.
“For such passengers, the airline ticket would be competitively priced and cheaper by as much as 30-40 per cent,” he said.
The airlines would be placing their unsold tickets with IRCTC, a move that not only promises a boon for the domestic carriers but an added option for the passengers in reaching their destination without having to abort their trip.
With an average seat factor of about 70 to 75 per cent, most of the domestic airlines fly with about 20 per cent seats empty in their plane and IRCTC plans to make the best use of it.
Meanwhile, Indian Railways has revised its policy on Tatkal tickets, changing the timing and refund policy.
As per the new schedule, the Tatkal booking for AC classes will commence at 10am and close at 11am, while for the non-AC classes, the Tatkal booking will commence at 11am and close at noon.
The passengers who wish to cancel their Tatkal ticket will now get upto 50% of refund.
