Air Passengers Can Cancel Tickets Free Within 48 Hours Under New DGCA Rules. All Details Inside

Air passengers will now be able to cancel or modify their flight tickets without paying any charges within 48 hours of booking, under new rules issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The revised regulations will come into effect from March 26.

The move comes amid rising complaints from passengers regarding refund delays and cancellation policies. To address these concerns, the aviation regulator has amended the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), which govern the country’s civil aviation sector.

48-Hour ‘Look-In Option’

Under the new guidelines, airlines must offer a 48-hour “look-in option” after ticket booking. During this window, passengers can cancel or modify their tickets without incurring any additional charges.

However, if a passenger chooses to rebook another flight, they will need to pay the fare difference between the original and the new booking.

To be eligible for the 48-hour free cancellation or modification:

• Domestic tickets must be booked at least seven days before departure.
• International tickets must be booked at least 15 days in advance.
• The booking must be made directly through the airline’s official platform.

After the 48-hour period, standard cancellation or modification fees will apply.

Refund Timeline and Agent Bookings

The DGCA has also prescribed a maximum timeline for issuing refunds and set a minimum refund amount to ensure transparency.

If a ticket is booked through a travel agent or online travel portal, the airline will remain responsible for ensuring that eligible passengers receive their refund within 14 days, since agents act as representatives of the airline.

Name Corrections and Medical Grounds

For added passenger convenience, the regulator has introduced a provision allowing free correction of name errors if the passenger informs the airline within 24 hours of booking, provided the ticket was purchased directly through the airline’s platform.

In cases where a passenger — or anyone on the same PNR — is hospitalised during the travel period, the airline must offer either a refund or a credit shell.

If the passenger is not hospitalised but is medically unfit to travel, a certificate from a DGCA-approved aerospace medicine specialist will be required to claim the benefit.

Protecting Passenger Interests

The DGCA clarified that while the government does not intend to interfere in airlines’ commercial operations, the surge in passenger complaints made it necessary to introduce minimum standards to safeguard public interest.