The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has made significant changes to refund rules for air travelers. Passengers can now cancel or rebook tickets within 48 hours of booking without incurring any additional fees . ...Read More

Digital Desk, New Delhi. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has significantly changed the refund rules, providing significant convenience to air travelers. Passengers can now cancel or change their tickets within 48 hours of booking without any additional charges. However, certain conditions must be met.

Under the changed civil aviation rules for refund of airline tickets to passengers of public transport companies, airlines have also been barred from levying any extra charge for correction of passenger name if the mistake is reported within 24 hours of booking and the ticket was purchased directly from the airline's website.

The refund process will be completed within 14 working days.

DGCA said, "The airlines will be responsible for refunds for tickets purchased from travel agents or portals as the agents are their appointed representatives. The airlines will have to ensure that the refund process is completed within 14 working days."

Changes in ticket cancellation rules

The revised CAR, issued on February 24, also changes the rules for ticket cancellations in case of medical emergencies. These changes come amid growing complaints from passengers about delayed refunds.

This issue also surfaced during the December 2025 flight disruption involving IndiGo, when the Civil Aviation Ministry directed the airline to process pending refunds within a stipulated timeline. The new changes are intended to simplify the refund process for passengers and ensure accountability on the part of the airline.