Free 48-Hour Flight Cancellation Rule Introduced; Know the Conditions
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation now allows passengers to cancel or amend flight tickets within 48 hours of booking without extra charges, subject to conditions
Feb 27, 2026 - Air travel passengers can now cancel or amend their tickets without any additional charge if if it is done within 48 hours of booking the ticket. This is subject to certain conditions.
This revision was issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on February 24 and comes in the wake of passenger inconvenience owing to disruptions, delays and cancellations of flights. Passenger complaints rose particularly during the IndiGo flight chaos in December 2025 when many travellers reported difficulties in receiving refunds, prompting regulatory action.
Additionally, name corrections within 24 hours of booking will be free if the ticket is booked directly through the airline’s official website.
The revision in the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) for 'Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers of Public Transport Undertakings' clarified that the 48-hour free cancellation benefit will be available only under the “free look-in period” condition. This means the facility will apply only if the ticket is booked at least 7 days prior to the date of travel. If the ticket is booked two or three days before the flight, the 48-hour waiver will not apply.
The DGCA clarified that even if the ticket is booked through a travel agent or online portal, the responsibility for processing the refund lies with the airline. Refunds must be processed within 14 working days for tickets booked through brokers, travel agents or websites, says the DGCA.
In case of cancellation owing to a medical emergency, the DGCA says, "For all other situations, refunds will be issued once an opinion on the passenger's fitness to travel certificate is received from an airline's Aerospace Medicine specialist/ DGCA empanelled Aerospace Medicine specialist,"
With Media Inputs
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