DGCA compensation rules for flight delays and cancellations — what Indian business travellers should know
By Diya Verma (Karthik Raghavan is a chartered accountant and business travel analyst who covers expense management, GST input credits, forex compliance and corporate booking strategy for Indian companies. He has advised startups and listed companies on travel-cost optimisation and DGCA passenger-rights compliance.) · Published · 10 min read
Indian airlines owe you specific compensation for delays and cancellations under DGCA rules — but most travellers do not claim it. Here is what you are entitled to and how to get it.
Quick answer
Under DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV), Indian airlines must provide compensation for delays, cancellations and denied boarding on domestic flights. For delays of 2-3 hours, the airline must offer meals/refreshments. For delays over 6 hours, the airline must offer an alternative flight or full refund. For cancellations without 24-hour advance notice, the airline must offer an alternative flight within 2 hours of the original departure or a full refund plus compensation. For denied boarding (overbooking), compensation ranges up to INR 20,000 or 400% of the one-way fare. These rules apply to all scheduled domestic flights in India. International flights are governed by the Montreal Convention and the destination country's passenger rights regime.
Delay compensation — tier by tier
DGCA rules define compensation tiers based on the length of delay (as of mid-2026 — verify against the latest DGCA CAR for any updates):
Delay of 1-2 hours: The airline must provide information about the delay and expected departure time. No material compensation required, but the airline should offer drinking water.
Delay of 2-3 hours: The airline must provide meals and refreshments. In practice, this usually means meal vouchers for the airport food court — INR 200 to INR 500 per passenger.
Delay of 3-6 hours: Meals, refreshments, and if the delay extends past the scheduled time significantly, the airline should offer hotel accommodation if needed (for connecting passengers or those stranded due to late-night delays). The airline should also provide a free phone call or email facility.
Delay over 6 hours: The airline must offer passengers the choice of: (a) an alternative flight to the destination, or (b) a full refund of the ticket price. Hotel accommodation and meals must be provided if the delay causes an overnight stay.
Important: these are the minimum DGCA requirements. Individual airline policies (IndiGo, Air India, Akasa) may be more generous. Check the airline-specific policies on our IndiGo and Air India hubs.
Cancellation compensation
When an airline cancels a domestic flight, the passenger rights depend on how much notice was given:
Cancellation with 24+ hours notice: The airline must offer an alternative flight or a full refund. No additional compensation required.
Cancellation with less than 24 hours notice: The airline must offer an alternative flight within 2 hours of the original departure time, or a full refund. Additionally, the airline should provide meals, refreshments, hotel (if overnight delay), and phone/email access.
Cancellation at the airport (after check-in): Same entitlements as above, plus the airline should arrange the next available alternative flight at no additional cost, regardless of fare class or airline.
For business travellers, the critical point is that a cancellation with less than 24 hours notice entitles you to an alternative flight within 2 hours. If the airline does not have its own flight within that window, they should rebook you on another carrier. In practice, airlines are reluctant to do this — you may need to insist and cite the DGCA CAR specifically.
Denied boarding — the biggest compensation
If you are denied boarding due to overbooking (the airline sold more seats than available), the compensation is the most generous under DGCA rules:
If the airline arranges an alternative flight within 1 hour of the original departure: Compensation of 200% of the one-way basic fare plus fuel charge, up to INR 10,000.
If the alternative flight departs more than 1 hour after the original: Compensation of 400% of the one-way basic fare plus fuel charge, up to INR 20,000.
Plus: meals, refreshments, phone/email access, and hotel accommodation if needed.
Denied boarding is less common in India than in the US or Europe, but it does happen on high-demand flights — Monday morning Delhi to Mumbai and Delhi to Bengaluru are the routes where overbooking is most likely. If you have a confirmed boarding pass and are denied boarding, your entitlement is clear.
How to claim — practical steps
Most Indian passengers do not claim the compensation they are entitled to because the process is not well-publicised. Here is how to do it:
1. Document everything: Screenshot the delay notification (SMS, app alert, departure board). Note the actual departure time vs scheduled departure time. Keep meal vouchers and any written communication from the airline.
2. Ask at the airport counter: Approach the airline counter and specifically ask for compensation as per DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV. Most ground staff know the rules but will not proactively offer compensation unless asked.
3. File a complaint on AirSewa: If the airline does not provide compensation at the airport, file a complaint on the AirSewa portal (airsewa.gov.in) or the AirSewa mobile app. This is the official DGCA passenger grievance platform. Include your PNR, ticket details, delay/cancellation evidence and what compensation you are requesting.
4. Follow up in writing: Email the airline's customer service with the same details. Refer to the specific DGCA CAR and your AirSewa complaint number.
5. Escalate to DGCA: If the airline does not respond within 30 days, escalate to DGCA directly through the AirSewa portal.
Why business travellers should care more
Business travellers have higher stakes in delay and cancellation situations — a missed meeting, a lost client, a day wasted. The DGCA compensation amounts (INR 10,000 to INR 20,000 for denied boarding) may not cover the business cost, but they are worth claiming on principle.
More importantly, consistent claiming creates a paper trail. If your company has a corporate rate agreement with an airline and that airline consistently delays or cancels flights, the claim history is leverage in the next rate negotiation. Airlines pay attention to corporate clients who document service failures.
For business travellers on time-critical routes, build a buffer into your schedule. If your meeting is at 1100 in Mumbai, do not book the 0800 Delhi departure — book the 0630 and use the buffer for a lounge visit or email catch-up. The buffer costs you an hour of sleep but saves the meeting. Search flight timings on FlightGPT.
International flights — different rules apply
DGCA rules apply to domestic flights within India. For international flights originating from India, passenger rights depend on the airline's country of origin and the Montreal Convention.
EU-bound flights (covered by EU261): If you fly from India to an EU destination on an EU-registered airline (Lufthansa, Air France, KLM), EU261 passenger rights apply to the inbound leg from the EU. If you fly on an Indian airline (Air India) to the EU, the EU261 does not apply to the outbound India-to-EU leg (only the return EU-to-India leg on an EU carrier).
The practical advice: for international business travel from India, buy travel insurance that covers trip delay and cancellation — this is more reliable than navigating multiple passenger-rights regimes across countries. See our business travel insurance guide for coverage recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation can I get for a flight delay in India?
For delays of 2-3 hours, the airline must provide meals/refreshments. For delays over 6 hours, a full refund or alternative flight. For denied boarding due to overbooking, compensation up to INR 20,000 or 400% of the fare. These are DGCA minimum requirements.
Where do I file a complaint about an Indian airline?
File on the AirSewa portal (airsewa.gov.in) or the AirSewa mobile app — this is the official DGCA passenger grievance platform. Include your PNR, ticket details and evidence of the delay or cancellation.
Do DGCA compensation rules apply to international flights?
DGCA rules apply to domestic flights within India. International flights are governed by the Montreal Convention and the destination country's passenger rights regime. EU261 applies to EU-registered carriers on flights involving EU airports.
Can I get compensation if my flight is cancelled with less than 24 hours notice?
Yes. The airline must offer an alternative flight within 2 hours of the original departure time, or a full refund. Additionally, meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation (if overnight) must be provided.
Is denied boarding common on Indian domestic flights?
Less common than in the US or Europe, but it happens on high-demand routes like Monday morning Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Bengaluru. If denied boarding with a confirmed booking, you are entitled to up to INR 20,000 compensation.