Indigo to Introduce 48-Hour Full Refund Flight Changes

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently reviewing a significant proposal that could allow airline passengers in India to cancel or reschedule their flights within 48 hours of booking without incurring additional charges and receive a full refund. This potential change aims to enhance consumer protection and address passenger grievances regarding flight cancellations and refunds.

Under the existing regulations, passengers are permitted free cancellation or rescheduling within 24 hours of booking, provided the flight’s departure is at least seven days away. The proposed amendment seeks to extend this free cancellation/rescheduling window to 48 hours from the time of booking and, critically, remove the seven-day departure condition. This would mean passengers could avail of the full refund policy even for flights departing within a week of booking.

Furthermore, the DGCA’s proposal includes specific timelines for processing refunds. If approved, airlines would be required to process refunds for domestic travel within 15 working days and for international travel within 30 working days. The DGCA has also suggested implementing an “Escalation Matrix” to improve grievance redressal mechanisms and conduct audits of airline refund systems to ensure greater transparency and accountability.

Airlines, including major carriers like Indigo and SpiceJet, are reportedly resisting these proposed changes, citing potential revenue losses and operational challenges. They have also expressed concerns about the possible misuse of such a flexible cancellation policy. However, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has emphasized the government’s commitment to “consumer centricity” and holding airlines accountable for their services and refund processes. Discussions between the DGCA and airlines are ongoing, with a decision expected in the coming months.

### Key Points
* Current free cancellation/rescheduling window: 24 hours from booking
* Current departure condition for free cancellation: At least 7 days away
* Proposed free cancellation/rescheduling window: 48 hours from booking
* Proposed removal of departure condition
* Proposed refund timeline for domestic travel: 15 working days
* Proposed refund timeline for international travel: 30 working days

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