New Delhi: Passengers will now be worldly-wise to cancel or transpiration air tickets without paying spare tuition penalty within 48 hours of bookings subject to unrepealable conditions, equal to the revised norms issued by Directorate General of Starchy Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday.
Why did DGCA introduce new rules?
DGCA moreover said that airlines should not levy any uneaten tuition for correcting names, if the error is pointed out by the passenger within 24 hours of making the booking, when the ticket is booked directly through the airline's website.
The Directorate General of Starchy Aviation (DGCA) said, "In specimen of purchase of ticket through travel agent/portal, onus of refund shall lie with the airlines as teachers are their scheduled representatives. The airlines shall ensure that the refund process is completed within 14 working days."
From when the rules will come into affect?
The new norms that are increasingly passenger-friendly will come in effect from March 26, the DGCA said in a fresh 'Civil Aviation Requirements' (CAR).
The amendments to the Starchy Aviation Requirements (CAR) for 'Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers of Public Transport Undertakings' comes versus due to the increase in passenger complaints well-nigh not receiving refunds on time.
The ticket refund issue moreover got highlighted during the IndiGo flight disruptions in December 2025 and at that time, the starchy aviation ministry had directed the airline to well-constructed the refunds within a specified timeline.
What is 'Look-in option'?
The DGCA's revised CAR, Section 3, Air Transport, Series ‘M’ Part II dated February 24, stated, “The airline shall provide ‘Look-in option’ for a period of 48 hours without booking a ticket. During this period passengers can cancel or update the ticket without any spare charges, except for the normal prevailing fare for the revised flight for which the ticket is sought to be amended.”
The CAR moreover clarified that the facility will not be misogynist "for a flight whose throw-away is less than 7 days for domestic flight and 15 days for international flight from the booking stage when the ticket is booked directly through an airline website.”
What well-nigh medical emergency?
According to DGCA, if the ticket is cancelled due to a medical emergency, where the passenger or a family member listed on the same PNR gets admitted/hospitalised during the travel period, the airlines may provide either a refund or a credit shell.
"For all other situations, refunds will be issued once an opinion on the passenger's fitness to travel document is received from an airline's Aerospace Medicine specialist/ DGCA empanelled Aerospace Medicine specialist," it said.
