- By Yashashvi Tak
- Tue, 04 Nov 2025 12:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed new regulations allowing air passengers to cancel or modify their tickets without additional charges within 48 hours of booking. The rules also require airlines to process refunds more quickly. According to an official statement, the move aims to make air travel more transparent and passenger-friendly, addressing frequent complaints over refund delays and high cancellation fees.
List Of New DGCA Rules For Air Travellers
1. The DGCA’s draft Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) includes several traveller-centric measures designed to improve customer experience and ensure timely refunds:
2. Passengers booking tickets directly through airline websites will get a 48-hour grace period to cancel or modify their tickets without any additional charge, except for fare differences when changing flights.
3. Airlines cannot levy extra charges for correcting a passenger’s name if the error is reported within 24 hours of booking through the airline’s website.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) drafts new rules letting air passengers cancel or amend tickets without extra charges within 48 hours of booking and mandates faster refunds. pic.twitter.com/05yyNBMVck
— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2025
4. Travellers can fix spelling mistakes in their names within 24 hours of booking without any penalty.
5. Airlines will remain responsible for processing refunds even if tickets are booked through travel agents or online portals, ensuring quicker resolutions.
6. All refunds must be completed within 21 working days, putting an end to prolonged delays faced by passengers.
7. In cases of flight cancellations due to medical emergencies, airlines may offer full refunds or credit shells, allowing flexibility and empathy toward passengers.
Who Will Benefit And When
The DGCA clarified that the 48-hour “look-in” window will not apply to tickets booked less than five days before a domestic flight or 15 days before an international flight. After the 48-hour period ends, standard airline cancellation or modification charges will apply. The aviation regulator has invited feedback from stakeholders on the draft CAR until November 30.
The proposed changes come in response to ongoing complaints and concerns from passengers about delays in ticket refunds and high cancellation charges.