DGCA introduces 48-hour zero cancellation fee rule: Full refund if ticket booked 7 days before travel
PTC Web Desk: In a major relief for air travellers, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has overhauled its ticket cancellation and refund norms, introducing a 48-hour “zero cancellation fee” period under the revised Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) notified on February 24.
As per the updated guidelines, passengers can cancel or make changes to their bookings within 48 hours of purchase without paying any cancellation or modification charges. This benefit, however, is available only if the ticket was booked at least seven days before the scheduled departure date. Tickets booked within seven days of travel will not be covered under this provision.
The revision comes amid rising complaints from flyers over delayed refunds and lack of clarity in airline cancellation policies. The move also follows operational disruptions involving IndiGo flights in December 2025, which brought airline refund practices under regulatory focus.
The DGCA has made it clear that airlines will be fully responsible for issuing refunds, even when tickets are booked through travel agents or online platforms such as MakeMyTrip and Goibibo. Carriers cannot shift accountability to intermediaries, as agents are treated as authorised representatives of the airlines.
Under the new rules, airlines must process all eligible refunds within 14 working days. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action, including penalties.
In the event of a medical emergency involving the passenger or a family member travelling under the same PNR and requiring hospitalisation, airlines are required to either grant a full refund or provide a credit shell for future travel. In other medical cases, the decision will depend on an evaluation by airline-designated aerospace medicine experts or doctors approved by the regulator.
Although cancellation or modification fees will not be charged within the 48-hour window, passengers may still have to pay any difference in fare if they reschedule to a flight where ticket prices are higher.
The revised framework is intended to improve transparency, prevent arbitrary deductions and strengthen passenger rights. Once the 48-hour grace period expires, standard airline cancellation rules will come into effect.
- With inputs from agencies
