India’s aviation watchdog, DGCA, on Wednesday proposed a radical measure to give passengers greater flexibility by allowing cancellation and changes to flight tickets without any charges within 48 hours. The new “Look-in option” will enable passengers to change their mind on a booking within 2 days, without penalty for cancellation or amendment, except where fare differences apply for rebooking on a different flight.
Key Details of the Proposal
- 48-hour Free Cancellation and Modification: Within 48 hours of booking, passengers can cancel or change their flights without incurring a fee. This facility aims to ease the burden on travelers who often incur losses due to sudden changes in plans.
- Refund Timelines: Airlines must issue refunds within 21 business days. The DGCA also made it clear that passengers won’t have to accept credit shells or wallet balances as compensation; they will still be able to get their money back directly.
- Name Correction: If you book your ticket directly through an airline’s website, you won’t have to pay any extra fees to fix minor mistakes like changing your name within 24 hours of booking.
- Exclusions for Imminent Departures: The 48-hour free cancellation period doesn’t apply to domestic flights departing within 5 days of booking or international flights departing within 15 days of booking. This is to balance airlines’ operational needs with passengers’ rights.
- Responsibility for Refunds by Airlines: Airlines will still be responsible for refunds, even if tickets are purchased through travel agents or online portals. This is because agents are seen as the airlines’ official representatives.
- Medical Emergencies: The proposal also states that airlines may issue refunds or credits for cancellations due to medical emergencies.
Objective and Impact
The DGCA’s proposed draft aims to make travel easier for passengers by giving them a reasonable amount of time to change their plans without losing money, which often happens when people cancel airline tickets. It is also expected to make refund processes more consistent and faster, thereby making the airline industry more open and safer for passengers.
Stakeholder Feedback and Implementation
Until November 30, 2025, the public and interested parties can give their opinions on this draft regulation. The DGCA will make the final rules for adoption after taking into account the comments it received. This careful consultation process is intended to address concerns from both consumers and the aviation industry to strike a balance between flexibility and operational feasibility.
In short, this proposal is a significant step toward improving passenger rights in India, making air travel more user-friendly, and aligning India with best practices worldwide. When these new rules are put in place, people traveling in India will have greater freedom and security.