Summary:
- PRISM offers full refunds for OYO guests amid Dec. 5–15 flight disruptions.
- Refunds apply to flights canceled or delayed more than four hours.
- India’s travel disruption worsens as IndiGo cancels hundreds of flights.
PRISM, OYO’S PARENT, introduced a full refund policy for travelers unable to check in between Dec. 5 and 15 due to flight disruptions. The move follows more than 1,400 flight cancellations that caused travel challenges during the holiday and wedding season.
India’s travel disruption worsened after IndiGo canceled hundreds of flights last week following days of network-wide delays. The airline, with a 60 percent market share and over 2,000 daily flights, faces pilot shortages under new crew-rostering rules. It expects operations to return to normal by Feb. 10
The refund applies to guests whose flights were canceled or delayed by more than four hours, PRISM said in a statement. Travelers who booked through OYO or the CheckIn app will receive refunds automatically upon providing proof of the delay or cancellation.
“Our early estimates indicate that significant bookings across our hotel network may be affected by ongoing flight disruptions,” said Varun Jain, PRISM Asia’s chief operating officer. “Coinciding with the peak wedding and holiday season, both leisure and business travel plans are being impacted. Our decision to offer full refunds reflects our responsibility to ensure guests are not financially burdened by circumstances beyond their control.”
The company is coordinating with partner hotels to ensure the process runs smoothly and reduce operational strain on property owners.
The PRISM portfolio includes over 13,000 hotels in India under brands such as Townhouse, Sunday and Palette. In response to the disruption, the company expanded customer support to assist travelers with refund queries and plans to review the policy period as the situation evolves.
In November, PRISM announced a bonus structure for all shareholders, including equity and CCPS holders, regardless of holding size.
