DGCA proposes full airfare refund for cancellations due to medical emergencies

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed revised airfare refund norms requiring airlines to issue a full refund or credit note if a passenger cancels a flight due to a medical emergency, among several other changes.

It has also made airlines directly responsible for refunding passengers in cases where tickets were purchased through travel agents or online portals.

The proposals areThe Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced a cash prize of ₹2.25 crore each for the State’s players in the Indian women’s cricket team that won the ICC Women’s World Cup recently.

As per the State government’s policy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana and Radha Yadav will be given the cash award and felicitated by the government. Coach Amol Muzumdar, who hails from Mumbai, will receive a cash prize of ₹22.5 lakh.

“Today, the Cabinet has passed a resolution to congratulate the women’s cricket team which has done a glorious job of winning the ICC World Cup. Similarly, three players from Maharashtra, Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana and Radha Yadav, will be felicitated by the Maharashtra government and will be given a cash prize as per our policy. They have made the country proud,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday, adding that the government will also felicitate the entire women’s cricket team when it visits Mumbai.

As per the government’s sports policy, players winning gold medals in the Olympics or Paralympics receive ₹3.75 crore each, while their coaches are awarded ₹37.5 lakh. Those winning gold in World Cups, World Championships or Para World Championships are given ₹2.25 crore each, with coaches receiving ₹22.5 lakh.

Athletes winning gold in the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games are given ₹75 lakh each, while Chess Olympiad champions receive ₹1 crore.

India recently won its first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final played at Navi Mumbai. Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match, and Deepti Sharma was declared Player of the Tournament. part of the draft regulations on “Refund of Airline Tickets to Passengers of Public Transport Undertakings,” for which the regulator has invited stakeholder comments until November 30, 2025.

The draft states that “the airline may refund the tickets or provide credit shell in case of ticket cancellations by passenger arising due to medical emergency.”

It also proposes that “in case of purchase of ticket through travel agent/portal, onus of refund shall lie with the airline as agents are their appointed representatives.” The airline must ensure that the refund process is completed within 21 working days, it adds.

Additionally, the aviation regulator has recommended extending the current 24-hour window for passengers to amend air tickets free of charge to 48 hours, provided such a change is made at least five days before the date of departure for domestic flights and 15 days before international flights. The earlier time frame was seven days before departure, with no distinction for domestic and international flights