India allows free flight ticket changes and cancellations within 48 hours of booking

India’s aviation regulator DGCA has revised ticket refund rules, allowing passengers to cancel or modify air tickets within 48 hours of booking without extra fees, subject to conditions.

Passengers in India will now be able to cancel or change their air tickets within 48 hours of booking without paying any additional charges, following a major revision of refund norms by the aviation regulator.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) announced the passenger-friendly amendments to the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on February 24, aiming to address rising complaints related to delays and deductions in ticket refunds.

Under the revised rules, airlines must provide a “look-in option” for 48 hours after ticket booking. During this window, passengers can cancel or amend their bookings without incurring cancellation or change fees. However, if a ticket is amended, passengers will need to pay the prevailing fare applicable to the revised flight.

This facility will not apply to tickets booked close to departure. For domestic flights, the option is unavailable if departure is within seven days of booking, while for international flights, the cut-off is 15 days. The rule applies only to tickets booked directly through airline websites.

Beyond the initial 48-hour period, standard airline cancellation and modification charges will apply.

Name correction and refund timelines

In another significant relief, DGCA has directed airlines not to levy any additional charges for correcting a passenger’s name—provided the correction is for the same individual and the error is reported within 24 hours of booking. This applies only to tickets booked directly with airlines.

The regulator also clarified that airlines remain responsible for issuing refunds even when tickets are booked through travel agents or online portals. Refunds must be processed within 14 working days, regardless of the booking channel.

Medical emergencies covered

The updated norms also address ticket cancellations due to medical emergencies. If a passenger or a family member listed on the same PNR is hospitalised during the travel period, airlines may offer either a full refund or a credit shell.

In other medical cases, refunds will be processed after reviewing a fitness-to-travel opinion from an airline’s aerospace medicine specialist or a DGCA-empanelled expert.

Background

The revised rules follow a surge in passenger complaints, particularly during flight disruptions in December 2025, when refund delays drew regulatory attention. That month alone, airlines received over 29,000 passenger complaints, with nearly 7.5% related to refunds.

India remains one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally, with domestic airlines carrying more than 16.6 crore passengers in 2025.