Full refund for flight tickets cancelled within 48 hours

In a major relief to air travellers, the Centre has revised flight ticket cancellation norms, mandating a full refund if a ticket is cancelled within 48 hours of booking.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued draft amendments aimed at protecting passenger interests amid rising complaints over minimal refunds and high cancellation charges. The move follows widespread grievances, including refund-related disputes after large-scale flight disruptions last December.
Under the proposed rules, passengers can cancel or modify their tickets without any penalty within two days of booking. Airlines have been made solely responsible for processing full refunds, even if tickets are booked through travel agents or online platforms.
The regulator has also directed that refunds must be credited within 14 working days from the date of cancellation. In addition, no extra charges should be levied if a ticket is amended within 24 hours of booking.
The new norms are slated to come into effect from March 26, subject to final notification.