No fines for cancelling flight tickets within 48 hrs of buying

Passengers will be able to cancel or amend flight tickets without penalty within 48 hours of purchase, and will no longer be forced into credit shells when seeking refunds, under revised norms issued by India’s civil aviation regulator.

- Neha LM Tripathi

Passengers will also no longer be forced into credit shells when seeking refunds.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revised ticket refund norms for airlines, mandating a 48-hour “look-in option” allowing passengers to cancel or amend flight tickets without additional charges after booking.

The regulator's revised Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), Section 3, Air Transport, Series ‘M Part II dated February 24, 2026, stated, “The airline shall provide ‘Look-in option’ for a period of 48 hours after booking a ticket. During this period passengers can cancel or amend the ticket without any additional charges, except for the normal prevailing fare for the revised flight for which the ticket is sought to be amended.”