DGCA Flight Delay & Cancellation Compensation Calculator
Determine your legally mandated statutory cash compensation, 100% full ticket refunds, and free hotel lodging rights under official Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations for flights in India.
Under DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, if an Indian airline cancels a domestic flight with less than 24 hours notice or denies boarding due to overbooking, the passenger is legally entitled to up to ₹10,000 cash compensation (for cancellations) or up to ₹20,000 (for involuntary denied boarding), in addition to a 100% full ticket refund or free alternate flight, complimentary refreshments, and hotel accommodation for long overnight delays.
1. Flight Duration & Ticket Fare
Flight time determines statutory compensation bracket: <= 1 hr (up to ₹5,000), 1–2 hrs (up to ₹7,500), > 2 hrs (up to ₹10,000).
Full amount debited from your card/UPI, including Passenger Service Fee (PSF) and User Development Fee (UDF).
DGCA statutory compensation is calculated against (Basic Fare + Fuel Charge) as printed on your ticket tax invoice.
2. Disruption Parameters & Notice
3. Optional: Checked Baggage IssuesCarriage by Air Act
Combined cash penalty compensation, ticket refunds, and statutory baggage claims.
Flight cancelled with less than 24 hours notice or at the airport. You are legally entitled to cash compensation plus full refund or alternate flight.
1-Click DGCA Grievance & Compensation Letter
Copy-paste this formatted formal legal claim directly into the Ministry of Civil Aviation AirSewa portal (airsewa.gov.in) or send to the airline nodal grievance officer.
TO: Nodal Grievance Officer, IndiGo Airlines COPY: AirSewa Portal (Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India) SUBJECT: Formal Claim for Compensation & Statutory Redressal under DGCA CAR Series M Part IV — PNR: 6EQ9KL / Flight 6E-2134 Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to formally submit a consumer grievance and claim for statutory compensation and refunds as mandated under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), Section 3 - Air Transport, Series M, Part IV. FLIGHT DETAILS: • Passenger Name: Rajesh Kumar • PNR / Booking Reference: 6EQ9KL • Flight Number: 6E-2134 • Date of Travel: 2026-10-20 • Sector: Delhi (DEL) to Bengaluru (BLR) • Disruption Type: Flight Cancellation by Airline • Total Ticket Price Paid: ₹7,500 • One-Way Basic Fare + Fuel Surcharge (YQ): ₹6,000 STATUTORY CLAIM DETAILS: As per DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, Clause 3.3.2(b): 1. Statutory Financial Compensation: ₹6,000 2. Full Ticket Refund (All Taxes, PSF, UDF & Basic Fare): ₹7,500 TOTAL AMOUNT PAYABLE: ₹13,500 GROUNDS FOR CLAIM: Flight cancelled with less than 24 hours notice or at the airport. You are legally entitled to cash compensation plus full refund or alternate flight. This disruption occurred within airline operational control and falls squarely within the statutory compensation mandates prescribed by the DGCA. Kindly credit the total statutory entitlement of ₹13,500 to my original source of payment within seven (7) days of receipt of this notice, failing which I shall escalate this matter to the AirSewa Appellate Authority and file a formal consumer complaint before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC). Yours faithfully, Rajesh Kumar Mobile / Contact on Booking Record
Email the airline nodal grievance officer with your PNR and this claim notice. Airlines have a statutory mandate to resolve consumer complaints within 30 days.
If the airline fails to respond or refuses statutory compensation, submit a grievance at airsewa.gov.in . DGCA oversees resolution.
Call 1915 or file on the NCH / e-Daakhil portal for deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, claiming interest and damages.
How Flight Cancellation & Delay Compensation Works in India
When Indian flyers face cancellations or multi-hour tarmac delays on carriers like IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, or Akasa Air, airline ground desks frequently offer minimal food packets or cite generic operational reasons. However, the Ministry of Civil Aviation establishes strict financial liability frameworks that every passenger has the legal right to enforce.
1. Flight Cancellations
If informed less than 24 hours prior or at the airport, the airline must offer an alternate flight or a 100% full refund PLUS cash compensation up to ₹10,000 based on block duration. If notified between 24h and 14 days, the airline must rebook within 2 hours or pay statutory compensation.
2. Lengthy Delays
Airlines must provide free refreshments for delays of 2+ hours (short flights) or 3+ hours (medium flights). For overnight delays exceeding 6 hours on flights departing between 20:00 and 03:00, or any delay exceeding 24 hours, free hotel lodging and transfers are mandatory.
3. Denied Boarding
If bumped involuntarily due to overbooking, the airline must pay 200% of your Basic Fare + Fuel Surcharge (up to ₹10,000) for alternate flights within 24 hours, or 400% (up to ₹20,000) plus a 100% full refund if the alternate flight is delayed beyond 24 hours or declined.
Official DGCA CAR Series M Part IV Compensation Slabs
Compensation is calculated against the sum of the booked one-way Basic Fare and the Airline Fuel Surcharge (YQ), subject to statutory ceiling limits.
| Disruption Category | Flight Block Time | Statutory Compensation Limit | Additional Statutory Rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Cancellation (<24h Notice / At Airport) | Block time ≤ 1 hour | ₹5,000 or (Basic + Fuel), whichever is less | 100% full refund OR free alternate flight + meals at airport |
| Block time > 1 hr & ≤ 2 hours | ₹7,500 or (Basic + Fuel), whichever is less | 100% full refund OR free alternate flight + meals at airport | |
| Block time > 2 hours | ₹10,000 or (Basic + Fuel), whichever is less | 100% full refund OR free alternate flight + meals at airport | |
| Involuntary Denied Boarding (Overbooking) | Alternate flight arranged ≤ 24 hours | 200% of (Basic + Fuel), max ₹10,000 | Free alternate flight ticket + airport meals & communications |
| Alternate > 24 hours OR passenger declines | 400% of (Basic + Fuel), max ₹20,000 | Mandatory 100% ticket refund + free hotel lodging if overnight | |
| Flight Delay Amenities | Delay ≥ 2h (≤2.5h flight) or ≥ 3h (>2.5h flight) | Complimentary Refreshments | Free snacks, meals, and water commensurate with waiting time |
| Delay ≥ 24h OR nocturnal delay > 6h (20:00–03:00) | Free Hotel + Cab Transfers | Free hotel stay, airport pickup/drop, and full refund option |
Worked Case Studies Under DGCA Regulations
Last-Minute Cancellation Due to Crew Shortage
A passenger booked a ₹7,200 ticket on IndiGo (Basic Fare ₹4,800 + Fuel Surcharge ₹1,200 + Airport fees ₹1,200). The flight duration is 2 hours 45 minutes. Upon arriving at Terminal 1, the airline cancelled the flight due to crew rostering issues.
Night Departure Delayed Beyond Midnight
A passenger scheduled on a 22:30 Air India flight from Mumbai to Kochi faced an 8-hour technical delay, pushing departure to 06:30 the following morning.
Airlines frequently attempt to deny all compensation by claiming "force majeure" or "operational snags". Under DGCA CAR Clause 3.3.3, airlines are exempt from cash compensation ONLY if the delay or cancellation was caused by meteorological conditions (dense winter fog in Delhi, cyclones), air traffic control restrictions, bird strikes, or security threats.
Crucial Passenger Protection: Even during extraordinary weather disruptions, the airline is NEVER exempt from providing either a 100% full refund (without any cancellation fee deduction) or a free alternate seat, plus food and water while waiting at the airport!
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Aviation Passenger Rights & DGCA Rules FAQ
How much compensation does an airline pay if a flight is cancelled in India?
Under DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, if an airline cancels a flight with less than 24 hours notice (or at the airport) for reasons within its control, it must provide a full ticket refund or alternate flight PLUS statutory financial compensation: up to ₹5,000 for flights with block time up to 1 hour; up to ₹7,500 for flights between 1 and 2 hours; and up to ₹10,000 for flights exceeding 2 hours (or one-way Basic Fare + Fuel Surcharge YQ, whichever is lower).
Is the airline liable to pay compensation if a flight is cancelled due to bad weather, fog, or ATC?
No cash compensation is payable if the cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline's control, such as severe weather, dense fog, air traffic control (ATC) restrictions, bird strikes, runway closures, or security emergencies. However, the passenger is unconditionally entitled to either a 100% full refund of all ticket components (including taxes and airport fees) without any cancellation deduction, or a free seat on an alternate flight.
When is an airline legally obligated to provide free hotel accommodation and meals for flight delays?
Under DGCA regulations, free meals and refreshments must be provided when a flight is delayed by 2 or more hours (for flights under 2.5 hours duration) or 3 or more hours (for flights between 2.5 and 5 hours). Free hotel accommodation and airport transfers are legally mandatory if a flight is delayed by 24 hours or more, or if a flight scheduled to depart between 20:00 hrs and 03:00 hrs is delayed by more than 6 hours.
What compensation is payable if a passenger is denied boarding due to overbooking?
If an airline denies boarding involuntarily to a confirmed passenger who reported on time, and provides an alternate flight within 24 hours, it must pay 200% of the booked one-way basic fare plus fuel charge, up to a statutory cap of ₹10,000. If the alternate flight departs after 24 hours or the passenger declines the alternate flight, the airline must pay 400% of the basic fare plus fuel charge, up to ₹20,000, PLUS refund the entire ticket in full.
How do I escalate my claim if an airline refuses to pay DGCA statutory compensation?
First, email the airline's official Nodal Grievance Officer with your PNR and flight invoice citing DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV. If unresolved within 30 days, file an official grievance on the Ministry of Civil Aviation AirSewa portal (airsewa.gov.in) or mobile app. You can also dial the National Consumer Helpline at 1915 or lodge a consumer case on e-Daakhil for deficiency in service.