Air passenger rights for delayed or cancelled flights in India

Here’s a clear breakdown of air passenger rights in India for delayed or cancelled flights, based on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) norms and the 2019 Passenger Charter reaffirmed in 2025.

Flight Delays
Meals & Refreshments:
- Delay ≥ 2 hours (flights < 2.5 hrs) → free meals/refreshments.
- Delay ≥ 3 hours (flights 2.5–5 hrs) → free meals/refreshments.
- Delay ≥ 4 hours (flights > 5 hrs) → free meals/refreshments.

Rescheduling or Refund:
- Delay > 6 hours → airline must offer either:
- An alternate flight within 6 hours, OR
- A full refund.

Overnight Delays:
- Airlines must provide free hotel accommodation + transfers if delay is overnight or > 24 hrs.
- Exception: No hotel/compensation if delay is due to “extraordinary circumstances” (e.g., fog, severe weather, security risks, natural disasters).
- Note: Crew shortages or operational failures are not extraordinary circumstances—airlines must provide hotels in such cases.

Flight Cancellations
Advance Notice:
- If cancellation is informed ≥ 2 weeks before departure → no compensation (only refund/alternate flight).
- If cancellation is informed < 2 weeks before departure → compensation + refund/alternate flight.

Compensation Amounts:
- Flights up to 1 hr → ₹5,000 (or basic fare + fuel charge, whichever is less).
- Flights 1–2 hrs → ₹7,500 (or basic fare + fuel charge, whichever is less).
- Flights > 2 hrs → ₹10,000 (or basic fare + fuel charge, whichever is less).

Connecting Flights:
- If cancellation causes missed connections on the same ticket, compensation applies.

Refunds
- Options: Passenger can refuse alternate flight and demand full refund.
- Timelines:
- Cash/bank transfer → immediate.
- Credit card → within 7 days.
- Travel agent bookings → refund must be claimed from agent.

Baggage Liability
- Domestic flights: Compensation capped at ₹20,000 per passenger.
- International flights: Compensation capped at 1,131 SDR (~₹1.2 lakh) per passenger.

Complaints
- AirSewa App/Portal (www.airsewa.gov.in): Primary government grievance channel.
- DGCA Nodal Officers: Available at major airports for passenger support.

Exceptions
If the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances—such as bad weather, air traffic control restrictions, strikes, or security threats—airlines are exempt from paying compensation, though they still must offer a refund or rebooking.

Key Takeaway
Indian passengers are legally entitled to meals, refunds, hotel stays, and compensation depending on the length of delay or cancellation. Airlines cannot deny benefits by citing operational failures as “extraordinary circumstances”