IndiGo Stock Plunges 2%, Ranks Among Top Nifty Losers Amid DGCA's Revisions to Air Ticket Refund Rules

DGCA Revises Air Ticket Refund Norms, Benefiting Passengers

Key Highlights:

• On February 27, Interglobe Aviation Ltd (parent of low-cost carrier IndiGo) shares fell 2.1% to Rs 4,830 apiece.
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revised air ticket refund norms, making them more passenger-friendly.
• The revised norms will be applicable from March 26.

Revised Refund Norms:

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• Passengers can now cancel or change air tickets without paying an additional charge within 48 hours of making the bookings, subject to certain conditions.
• The option is not available for domestic flight bookings where the departure date is less than 7 days, and in the case of international bookings, the departure date should be not less than 15 days.
• Airlines should not levy any additional charge for correction in the name of the same person when the error is pointed out by the passenger within 24 hours of making the booking, when the ticket is booked directly through the airline's website.

Changes in Ticket Cancellation Norms Due to Medical Emergency:

• In the event of ticket cancellations due to a medical emergency, airlines may provide either a refund or a credit shell.
• For all other situations, refunds will be issued once an opinion on the passenger's fitness to travel certificate is received from an airline's Aerospace Medicine specialist/ DGCA empanelled Aerospace Medicine specialist.

Impact on Airlines:

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• Airlines have been asked to provide a 'Look-in option' for a period of 48 hours to passengers after booking tickets.
• Airlines should not levy any additional charge for correction in the name of the same person when the error is pointed out by the passenger within 24 hours of making the booking, when the ticket is booked directly through the airline's website.

DGCA Data:

• In December 2025, scheduled airlines received a total of 29,212 passenger-related complaints and 7.5 per cent of them were related to refunds.
• During that month, domestic carriers carried over 1.43 crore passengers.
• India is one of the world's fastest growing civil aviation markets and domestic airlines carried over 16.69 crore passengers in 2025.