Flight cancelled? Your right to a refund and compensation in India
If your flight in India is cancelled, you are entitled to a refund or another flight. If the airline tells you less than 24 hours before departure, you may also get compensation of ₹5,000 to ₹10,000.
These rights come from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s rules on facilities for passengers, which apply to Indian airlines.
Your rights depend on when you were told
| When the airline informs you | What you get |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks or more before departure | Another flight or a full refund |
| Less than 2 weeks but more than 24 hours before | Another flight or a full refund |
| Less than 24 hours before, or you miss a connection on the same ticket | Another flight or a full refund, plus compensation |
How much compensation
Compensation depends on the flight’s block time (the scheduled time from departure to arrival):
- up to 1 hour: ₹5,000
- 1 to 2 hours: ₹7,500
- more than 2 hours: ₹10,000
or the one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, if that is less. Compensation is generally not payable when the cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline’s control, such as bad weather.
Refund timing
If you paid by credit card, the refund should reach your card account within 7 days of the cancellation. If the airline offers only a credit shell or voucher, you can ask for a refund instead.
How to complain
- Write to the airline’s customer care and its nodal or appellate officer, with your booking reference (PNR).
- If that fails, file a complaint on AirSewa (airsewa.gov.in), the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s grievance portal.
- For unresolved refunds or compensation, you can approach the National Consumer Helpline (1915) and then a Consumer Commission. See how to file a consumer complaint.
Keep your ticket, cancellation message and payment proof.