48-hour free cancellation: DGCA modifies ticket refund rules, sets deadline for airlines

Air passengers can now cancel or modify their tickets without paying additional charges within 48 hours of booking, subject to certain conditions, after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revised refund norms. Under the amended civil aviation requirements (CAR) for ‘Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers of Public Transport Undertakings’, airlines have also been barred from levying any extra charge for correction of a passenger’s name, if the error is flagged within 24 hours of booking and the ticket was purchased directly through the airline’s website.“In case of purchase of a 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,” the DGCA said. The revised CAR, issued on February 24, also introduces changes to norms governing ticket cancellations in case of medical emergencies faced by passengers.The amendments come amid rising passenger complaints over delays in refunds. The issue had also come into focus during flight disruptions involving IndiGo in December 2025, when the civil aviation ministry directed the airline to complete pending refunds within a stipulated timeline.The latest changes are aimed at making the refund process more passenger-friendly and ensuring accountability on the part of airlines.