Delta Airlines will allow customers to re-book travel affected by COVID-19 for up to 2 years

Delta Airlines has announced that it will be extending customers’ ability to re-book travel affected by the COVID-19 pandemic for up to two years.

Tickets typically expire one year after purchase, but the company said they are waiving change fees and providing greater flexibility to travel through May 31, 2022.

New ticket purchases between March 1 and May 31, 2020, can be changed without any fees applied for up to a year.

 

“Taking care of customers is at the center of everything we do. In these times of rapid change, we know our customers want the value of their tickets to be secure and redeemable for a longer period,” the company said in a statement.

 

The news comes as airlines have worked desperately to stay afloat amid the financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Other major airlines have cut prices and fee waivers along with implementing hiring freezes to combat the sharp decline in bookings.

The International Air Transport Association, an airline trade group, estimates that the outbreak could reduce carriers’ revenue between $63 billion and $113 billion, depending on how far it speeds.

The same group said the terror attacks in 2001, destroyed the U.S. airline industry but had less impact overseas, cut revenue by about $20 billion.