DGCA Passenger Rights in India (2026): Delay, Cancellation and Denied Boarding Compensation Rules

Last updated: Jul 31, 2026

A delayed flight in India does not automatically qualify you for cash compensation.

Depending on the length of the delay, the airline may instead owe you meals, a hotel, an alternate flight or a refund. These rules cover domestic flights and flights operated to or from India.

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What do you get if your flight is delayed in India?

Your entitlement depends on the delay and the flight’s scheduled block time, meaning the time from the aircraft’s first movement for departure until it stops after arrival.

India delay ladder: what the airline must provide

DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV

2 hours or more Block time up to 2 hours 30 minutes	Meals and refreshments appropriate to the waiting time
3 hours or more Block time above 2 hours 30 minutes and up to 5 hours	Meals and refreshments appropriate to the waiting time
4 hours or more Block time above 5 hours	Meals and refreshments appropriate to the waiting time
More than 6 hours Domestic flight	An alternate flight within 6 hours or a full refund. If the airline relies on a previously revised departure time, that revision must have been communicated more than 24 hours before the original departure.
More than 6 hours Flight scheduled between 8:00 pm and 3:00 am	Hotel accommodation when necessary, including transfers
More than 24 hours Any flight	Hotel accommodation when necessary, including transfers
Delay alone	No fixed cash compensation under the DGCA delay rules

Meals are tied to the waiting time and generally require you to have checked in on time. Weather, air traffic control and other extraordinary circumstances can affect whether meals and hotel accommodation are owed.

The frequently quoted figure of up to ₹20,000 applies to involuntary denied boarding, not an ordinary flight delay.

What do you get if your flight is cancelled?

Your rights depend mainly on when the airline informed you.

At least two weeks before departure: an alternate flight or a refund, as acceptable to you.
Less than two weeks but at least 24 hours before departure: an alternate flight or a refund, as acceptable to you.
Less than 24 hours before departure, or no proper notice: an acceptable alternate flight, or a full refund plus compensation.

The same compensation rule can apply if a cancellation makes you miss a connecting flight booked under the same ticket number.

Flight block time	Compensation, whichever is less
Up to and including 1 hour	₹5,000 or the one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge
More than 1 hour and up to 2 hours	₹7,500 or the one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge
More than 2 hours	₹10,000 or the one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge

If you already reached the airport and are waiting for the replacement flight, the airline must also provide meals and refreshments appropriate to the wait.

What if you are denied boarding?

When more confirmed passengers report on time than there are seats, the airline should first seek volunteers. If you are then denied boarding against your will, these rules apply:

Alternate flight within 1 hour: no compensation.
Alternate flight within 24 hours: 200% of the one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, capped at ₹10,000.
Alternate flight more than 24 hours later: 400% of the one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge, capped at ₹20,000.
You decline the alternate flight: a full refund plus 400% of the one-way basic fare and fuel charge, capped at ₹20,000.

Compensation must be paid in cash or by bank transfer. A travel voucher requires your signed agreement.

If the airline involuntarily moves you to a lower class, it must reimburse 75% of the ticket cost including taxes on a domestic flight. International reimbursement ranges from 30% to 75%, depending on distance.

Which DGCA rules apply?

Delay, cancellation and denied-boarding rights are set out in DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements Section 3, Series M, Part IV, Revision 4. It has been effective since 15 February 2023.

Refund processing is governed separately by Series M, Part II, Revision 3, dated 24 February 2026 and effective from 26 March 2026. It includes a 48-hour look-in period for eligible direct bookings and requires agent or portal refunds to be completed within 14 working days.

For foreign airlines flying to or from India, compensation may follow the rules of the airline’s country of origin or the amounts in the Indian CAR. The applicable overseas regime depends on the route and carrier, so do not assume that another country’s compensation rules automatically apply.

What happens during fog or other extraordinary circumstances?

Airlines generally do not owe cash compensation when a disruption is caused by weather, air traffic control, security risks or another extraordinary circumstance beyond their control.

For cancellations, you should still be offered a refund or alternate travel. For delays, the CAR expressly allows airlines to withhold the meals and hotel facilities listed in paragraph 3.8 when extraordinary circumstances could not reasonably have been avoided.

The six-hour domestic refund or alternate-flight clause is not expressly named in that facilities exemption. Ask the airline to apply it and escalate through AirSewa if the request is refused, rather than assuming reimbursement for expenses you arrange yourself.

Make sure the airline has your contact details

Financial compensation for a cancellation may be unavailable if you did not provide an email address or phone number when booking. This does not remove your right to a refund or reasonable efforts to arrange alternate travel.

Check that the airline—not only the booking agent—has your current contact details and keep the booking confirmation.

How to escalate a DGCA complaint

Complain to the airline first. Ask for the complaint’s unique reference number and use the airline’s Nodal Officer or Appellate Authority if needed.
Escalate through AirSewa. File the complaint on the AirSewa portal if the airline does not resolve it.
Consider a statutory forum or court. The CAR preserves your right to pursue another body with jurisdiction under applicable law.

Attach your ticket or boarding pass, the airline’s delay or cancellation message, receipts for any eligible expense and the complaint reference number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get cash compensation for a flight delay in India?

Not for delay alone. Depending on the circumstances, the airline may owe you meals, a hotel, an alternate flight or a refund.

How much compensation applies to a cancelled flight?

The maximum is ₹5,000, ₹7,500 or ₹10,000 depending on block time. The actual amount is the stated cap or your one-way basic fare plus fuel charge, whichever is lower.

What is the maximum denied-boarding compensation?

The cap is ₹20,000. It applies when the replacement flight departs more than 24 hours later or when you decline the replacement and take a refund.

What can I claim when fog disrupts my flight?

Cash compensation is generally excluded. For a cancellation, ask for a refund or alternate flight; for a long domestic delay, request the six-hour option and escalate if the airline refuses.

Does the DGCA pay the compensation?

No. The airline pays passenger compensation, while the DGCA sets and enforces the rules.

Sources

Featured image: International arrivals area, Indira Gandhi International Airport, by Bharatahs via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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