New Delhi, February 26 Passengers can now cancel or change their air tickets without incurring any additional charges within 48 hours of booking, subject to certain conditions, as revised by the aviation regulator, DGCA, regarding ticket refunds for airlines.
In introducing these amended norms, which are more passenger-friendly, the DGCA also stated that airlines should not levy any additional charges for correcting the name when the passenger points out an error within 24 hours of booking, when the ticket is booked directly through the airline's website.
"In the case of purchasing a ticket through a travel agent/portal, the responsibility for refund will lie with the airlines, as the agents are their appointed representatives. The airlines will ensure that the refund process is completed within 14 working days," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.
Furthermore, there are changes regarding the norms for canceling tickets due to a medical emergency faced by the passenger.
The amendments to the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) for 'Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers of Public Transport Undertakings' come in the wake of increasing passenger complaints about delayed refunds. The issue of ticket refunds was also highlighted during the IndiGo flight disruptions in December 2025, and at that time, the civil aviation ministry had directed the airline to complete the refunds within a specified timeline.
The revised CAR was issued on February 24.