Flight delayed by rain? Here’s what DGCA rules say about your refund

Passengers whose flights are delayed or cancelled due to heavy rain are protected under the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Passenger Charter of Rights and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulations, even though airlines are generally not required to pay monetary compensation for weather-related disruptions.

Heavy rain is treated as a force majeure event — an extraordinary circumstance beyond an airline’s control — which exempts carriers from compensation payouts. However, passengers retain the right to either a full refund of the ticket fare or an alternative flight, depending on availability and preference, if their flight is cancelled due to weather.

During prolonged delays, airlines may also be required to provide assistance such as meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation for overnight stays, and transport between the airport and hotel where applicable.

According to DGCA, if a ticket was purchased through a travel agent or booking portal, the airline remains responsible for processing the refund, since agents act as the airline’s appointed representatives. Airlines must complete the refund process within 14 working days.

To claim a refund, passengers should submit a request through the airline’s website, app or customer service, or through the same travel agent or platform used for booking. If an airline fails to process the refund, passengers can escalate the matter through the airline’s grievance mechanism, the AirSewa portal, or the appropriate consumer dispute redressal commission.