DGCA introduces 48-hour free flight cancellation window from March 26

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given air travellers a two-day window to cancel or amend flight bookings without additional cost, under revised rules announced this week.

The regulator updated its civil aviation requirements on ticket refunds on February 24, introducing what it termed a "look-in option" — a 48-hour period after booking during which travellers can make changes without penalty. The revised rules will come into force on March 26. DGCA has however affixed certain conditions for passengers.

The facility would apply only when the departure date is at least seven days away for domestic travel and 15 days for international, and only when the ticket is booked directly through an airline's website. Once the 48-hour window closes, standard cancellation charges would be applicable.


Bookings Made on Airlines’ Platforms

The regulator also addressed a common source of frustration: name errors. Airlines are barred from charging passengers for correcting a name on a ticket if the mistake is flagged within 24 hours of booking — again, provided the purchase was made through the airline's own platform.

On refunds processed through travel agents or third-party portals, the DGCA was firm— accountability rests with the airline, not the intermediary. Airlines must complete refunds within 14 working days, process credit card refunds within seven days, and issue immediate refunds for cash payments made at airline offices. Carriers would also be required to refund all statutory taxes and passenger-related charges in cases of cancellation or no-show, even where the base fare is non-refundable, and must display cancellation charges clearly at the point of booking.

The revised rules follow a surge in passenger grievances. Ticket refund complaints gained attention during IndiGo’s flight disruptions in December 2025, when the civil aviation ministry stepped in and directed the airline to process outstanding refunds within a set timeframe. In that month alone, scheduled carriers received over 29,000 passenger complaints, including 7.5% refund-related grievances. The revised rules also include provisions covering cancellations prompted by medical emergencies, though specific details are yet to be widely published.