The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has changed its rules on how to cancel and refund airline tickets. This is great news for people who fly all over the country. The new rules went into force at the end of February 2026. They are meant to make flying easier for passengers and cut down on refund disputes.
DON'T MISS
A lot of tourists have been upset about high cancellation fees and long wait times for refunds over the past few years. Since the regulator heard these worries, they have now made deadlines clearer and made cancellation choices more flexible.
48-Hour Window to Cancel for Free
People can cancel or change their tickets within 48 hours of booking them without having to pay extra refund fees.
When this happens, agents will be treated like flight reps, making sure that customers aren’t stuck in the middle of refund delays.
Help for Name Mistakes and Medical Emergencies
As of now, passengers can fix small name errors on their reservations for free within 24 hours, as long as they are made on the airline’s official website.
If the customer or a close family member on the same PNR has a medical emergency, the airline has to give either a full refund or a credit for future travel.
A Step Towards More Plain Language
The decision was made after complaints about refunds during operational delays involving airlines like IndiGo.
The DGCA wants to strengthen passenger rights and make the Indian aviation industry more accountable with these new rules. Travellers will have more freedom with the new rules, and their money will be safer and refunded faster.
