In a major passenger-friendly move, Directorate General of Civil Aviation has revised airline ticket refund norms, allowing travellers to cancel or modify bookings within 48 hours without extra charges, subject to specific conditions.
Under the amended Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) issued on February 24, airlines must also process refunds within 14 working days. The regulator clarified that the responsibility for refunds will remain with the airline even if tickets are booked through travel agents or online portals.
Passengers booking directly through airline websites can correct name errors within 24 hours at no additional cost, provided the correction is for the same person. The new rules also include provisions for cancellations due to medical emergencies.
The 48-hour “look-in option” will not apply to flights departing within seven days for domestic routes and 15 days for international travel. The changes come amid rising complaints over delayed refunds, highlighted during the IndiGo disruptions in December 2025.
