Air Travellers in India to Get 48-Hour Free Cancellation Window on Flight Bookings

The aviation regulator has approved new ticket refund norms that let passengers cancel or amend bookings within 48 hours of purchase without extra charges, starting late March

New Delhi | 27 February, 2026: India’s civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has introduced a new rule that gives air travellers a 48-hour “look-in” window after booking to cancel or change their flight without paying additional fees. The updated norms were issued on 24 February and will take effect from 26 March 2026, aiming to make airline ticketing more flexible and fair for passengers.

Under the regulation, airlines must allow passengers to cancel or amend tickets within two days of purchase without levying extra charges beyond any difference in fare for a new flight. This benefit applies only when flights are scheduled to depart at least seven days later for domestic journeys and at least 15 days later for international trips, and only if the ticket was booked directly on the airline’s official website.

The DGCA has also tightened refund timelines and accountability. Carriers must process refunds for credit card bookings within seven working days, while refunds for tickets bought through travel agents or online portals must be completed within 14 working days, with the airline held responsible even if a third party was involved in the sale. Statutory taxes and related fees must be refunded even if the fare itself is non-refundable.

Another consumer-centric change bars airlines from charging extra fees for correcting name spellings if the error is reported within 24 hours of booking. The regulator said the overhaul aims to reduce long-standing grievances over delayed refunds and opaque cancellation charges.

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