Archive · 23 Nov 2025
Last-Minute Flight Cancellations May Soon Be Less Costly
If you have to cancel your flight close to departure, you might soon get some money back.
The government is planning to add travel insurance to your ticket, so you can get a refund if you cancel.
This could help people who can't travel due to emergencies and don't want to lose all their money.
Airlines are trying to figure out how to make this work with insurance companies.
Passengers cancelling flights close to departure may get refunds
Government plans in-built travel insurance in air tickets
Refunds could reach up to 80% for cancellations up to 4 hours before
Airlines to explore adding insurance element to lowest fare category
DGCA acknowledges ticket refunds as major passenger grievance
- Who
- Passengers, Government, Airlines, DGCA
- What
- Planning to introduce in-built travel insurance for flight cancellations
- When
- Within the next two to three months
- Where
- India
- Why
- To provide refunds for last-minute cancellations and address passenger grievances
Passengers
Airlines
Refund Policy
Passengers
Want easier and faster refunds for cancellations, especially for genuine reasons like emergencies
Airlines
Currently offer no refund for last-minute cancellations, but exploring options to add insurance element to lowest fare category
- Current Refund Policy
- No refund for cancellations within 3 hours of departure, full refund only for medical emergencies
- Proposed Refund Policy
- Up to 80% refund for cancellations up to 4 hours before departure
- Potential Premium Amount
- About Rs 50 on every ticket
- DGCA's Role
- Acknowledges ticket refunds as a major passenger grievance and seeks public comments on draft rules
