The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revised its Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) to allow airline passengers a 48-hour “look-in” period, enabling cancellations or amendments to bookings without incurring extra charges. The move, aimed at enhancing passenger convenience, applies to tickets booked directly through airlines’ official websites.
Under the new provisions, passengers can cancel or modify their bookings within 48 hours of purchase without paying additional fees. If a ticket is switched to another flight, however, passengers must cover any difference in fare. The regulation applies only when the departure date is at least seven days away for domestic flights and 15 days for international flights.
The DGCA clarified that once the 48-hour period expires, standard cancellation charges will apply as per airline policy. The revised requirements, issued on February 24, will come into effect from March 26, 2026.
The regulator has also set out guidelines for name corrections and refund timelines. Airlines cannot levy any fee for correcting the name of the same passenger if the error is reported within 24 hours of booking, provided the ticket was purchased directly from the airline. In cases where tickets are booked via travel agents or online portals, airlines retain responsibility for processing refunds, since agents act as intermediaries.
Refund timelines are now clearly defined: for credit card transactions, airlines must complete refunds within seven working days. Cash payments made at airline offices should be refunded immediately at the point of purchase. The DGCA further mandated that all statutory taxes and passenger-related charges must be refunded in case of cancellations or no-shows, even if the base fare is non-refundable.
Officials said the updated rules reflect ongoing efforts to protect passenger rights while streamlining airline operations. The 48-hour “look-in” period is expected to provide flexibility for travelers adjusting plans shortly after booking, particularly in cases of inadvertent errors, schedule changes, or emergent circumstances.
The DGCA emphasized that the new regulations are binding for all Indian carriers and will require monitoring to ensure compliance. Airlines are expected to update their booking platforms, internal procedures, and customer service protocols to align with the revised framework.
Passenger groups and industry experts welcomed the move, noting that it simplifies the booking process and offers additional protection against unexpected changes. They highlighted the clarity on refunds, name corrections, and statutory tax reimbursements as key improvements over prior rules.
The regulator stated that this policy complements existing measures to promote transparency, digitization, and consumer rights in the civil aviation sector, and aligns with global best practices in airline ticketing and passenger service.
