India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has released a draft Civil Aviation Requirement that—if adopted—will dramatically change how Indian and foreign carriers handle passenger refunds and itinerary changes. The most headline-grabbing measure is a compulsory 48-hour “look-in option.” During the first two days after a booking is made, travellers will be free to cancel or modify their ticket without paying any carrier-imposed fees, provided the flight is at least five days away for domestic sectors and 15 days away for international sectors. Only the fare difference for a new itinerary may be collected, shielding passengers from punitive rescheduling charges.
Equally significant is a hard 21-working-day deadline for processing all refunds—even when the ticket was purchased through an online travel agency or brick-and-mortar agent. The draft squarely places the legal onus on airlines, noting that agents are their appointed representatives. Complaints about delayed or partial refunds have topped DGCA’s consumer-grievance charts since the pandemic; officials say a “minimum benchmark” is now needed. Additional clauses bar airlines from levying fees for minor name corrections made within 24 hours and direct carriers to consider credit-shell or full-cash refunds for medical emergencies.
![India’s aviation regulator proposes 48-hour ‘look-in’ window and 21-day refund mandate for all airline tickets]()
For corporate mobility teams, the proposal offers welcome cost certainty. Short-notice project cancellations often leave companies holding high-value, non-refundable tickets. A two-day cooling-off period gives travel managers breathing room to align flights with shifting schedules, while the 21-day cap eases cash-flow pressure on large enterprise programmes that generate thousands of bookings a month.
Industry reaction has been mixed. Global carriers that sell India-originating tickets via global distribution systems will need to adapt reservation workflows, and some low-cost airlines warn that unconditional flexibility could increase fare levels. Consumer advocates counter that most mature markets—from the United States to the European Union—already enforce similar refund timelines, proving that passenger-friendly rules and healthy airline economics can coexist. The DGCA has invited public comments until 30 November; a final regulation is expected before the peak holiday travel season.
Equally significant is a hard 21-working-day deadline for processing all refunds—even when the ticket was purchased through an online travel agency or brick-and-mortar agent. The draft squarely places the legal onus on airlines, noting that agents are their appointed representatives. Complaints about delayed or partial refunds have topped DGCA’s consumer-grievance charts since the pandemic; officials say a “minimum benchmark” is now needed. Additional clauses bar airlines from levying fees for minor name corrections made within 24 hours and direct carriers to consider credit-shell or full-cash refunds for medical emergencies.
For corporate mobility teams, the proposal offers welcome cost certainty. Short-notice project cancellations often leave companies holding high-value, non-refundable tickets. A two-day cooling-off period gives travel managers breathing room to align flights with shifting schedules, while the 21-day cap eases cash-flow pressure on large enterprise programmes that generate thousands of bookings a month.
Industry reaction has been mixed. Global carriers that sell India-originating tickets via global distribution systems will need to adapt reservation workflows, and some low-cost airlines warn that unconditional flexibility could increase fare levels. Consumer advocates counter that most mature markets—from the United States to the European Union—already enforce similar refund timelines, proving that passenger-friendly rules and healthy airline economics can coexist. The DGCA has invited public comments until 30 November; a final regulation is expected before the peak holiday travel season.
