Refund Rule: DGCA announces 48-hour free flight cancellation window

New Delhi: Passengers will now be able to cancel or change air tickets without paying additional charge penalty within 48 hours of bookings subject to certain conditions, according to the revised norms issued by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday.

Why did DGCA introduce new rules?

DGCA also said that airlines should not levy any extra charge for correcting names, if the error is pointed out by the passenger within 24 hours of making the booking, when the ticket is booked directly through the airline's website.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said, "In case of purchase of ticket through travel agent/portal, onus of refund shall lie with the airlines as agents are their appointed representatives. The airlines shall ensure that the refund process is completed within 14 working days."

From when the rules will come into affect?

The new norms that are more passenger-friendly will come in effect from March 26, the DGCA said in a fresh 'Civil Aviation Requirements' (CAR).

The amendments to the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) for 'Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers of Public Transport Undertakings' comes against due to the increase in passenger complaints about not receiving refunds on time.

The ticket refund issue also got highlighted during the IndiGo flight disruptions in December 2025 and at that time, the civil aviation ministry had directed the airline to complete the refunds within a specified timeline.

What is 'Look-in option'?

The DGCA's revised CAR, Section 3, Air Transport, Series ‘M’ Part II dated February 24, stated, “The airline shall provide ‘Look-in option’ for a period of 48 hours after booking a ticket. During this period passengers can cancel or amend the ticket without any additional charges, except for the normal prevailing fare for the revised flight for which the ticket is sought to be amended.”

The CAR also clarified that the facility will not be available "for a flight whose departure is less than 7 days for domestic flight and 15 days for international flight from the booking date when the ticket is booked directly through an airline website.”

What about medical emergency?

According to DGCA, if the ticket is  cancelled due to a medical emergency, where the passenger or a family member listed on the same PNR gets admitted/hospitalised during the travel period, the airlines may provide either a refund or a credit shell.

"For all other situations, refunds will be issued once an opinion on the passenger's fitness to travel certificate is received from an airline's Aerospace Medicine specialist/ DGCA empanelled Aerospace Medicine specialist," it said.