Bringing great relief to air travelers, the Aviation Regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has amended the ticket refund rule. Now, passengers can cancel or modify their ticket without penalty within 48 hours.
The revised Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) issued on February 24 aims to make airline policies more transparent and provide relief to passengers in light of increasing complaints about delayed refunds. According to DGCA, under the new rule, airlines must offer a 48-hour window from the time of booking, during which passengers can cancel or amend their ticket without additional charges. However, if a passenger wishes to travel on a different flight, the current fare difference will apply.
Some conditions come with this benefit. The 48-hour waiver does not apply to tickets directly booked from the airline's websites if booked within seven days for domestic flights and fifteen days for international flights from the scheduled departure date. Beyond the 48-hour window, the airline's standard cancellation and amendment fees will apply.
Prohibiting Extra Charges
Among other key changes, the DGCA has stopped airlines from charging extra fees for corrections in a passenger's name, provided that the mistakes are reported within 24 hours of booking and the ticket is purchased directly from the airline's website. This measure expects to address ongoing complaints about extra charges for minor errors in names made by travelers.
Furthermore, the regulator clarified accountability in cases where tickets are booked through travel agents or online portals. Even for bookings made through third-party platforms, airlines will be responsible for refund processing, as agents operate as their registered representatives. Airlines are required to complete the refund process within 14 working days.
Modified Norms
The revised rules also provide clarity on the cancellation due to medical emergencies. If, during the journey period, a passenger or a family member listed on the same PNR is hospitalized, the airline may either offer a full refund or issue credit for future travel. In other medical cases, the refund process will be carried out post-fitness evaluation by an aerospace medicine expert appointed by the airline or listed by the DGCA.
These amendments are made in view of increasing complaints concerning refund delays. The issue came to prominence during disruptions involving Indigo flights in December 2025, prompting the Ministry of Civil Aviation to direct the airline to urgently resolve pending refund claims.
Data from DGCA shows that scheduled airlines received 29,212 complaints from passengers in December 2025 alone, with 7.5% related to refunds. During this same month, domestic airlines provided transportation services to over 14.3 million passengers.
For consumers, these proactive rules mean a greater sense of control and potentially a much more positive travel and ticketing experience.
