In a formal representation submitted on March 26, 2026, to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), TIA flagged what it calls a ‘non-uniform implementation’ of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) issued last month.
The issue centres on the 48-hour ‘look-in option’ introduced by the DGCA on February 24, 2026. This regulation was designed to allow passengers a grace period to cancel or amend bookings without penalty. However, TIA claims that major industry players, specifically IndiGo and Air India Group, are restricting this benefit exclusively to passengers who book directly through airline websites. This practice excludes travellers who use Traditional travel agents, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) or Third-party distribution partners.
Impact on the travel ecosystem
Jagdeep Bhagat, President, TIA, characterised the current situation as a deviation from the government’s passenger-centric intent. The alliance argues that by making the benefit channel-specific rather than passenger-specific, airlines are creating an uneven playing field.
“Regulatory benefits must be channel-neutral and uniformly applicable,” the TIA stated in its communication. “Passenger rights should not vary based on the source of the booking.”
Beyond consumer fairness, the TIA warned that the exclusion of travel trade partners poses a systemic threat to the livelihoods of thousands of agents across India who form the backbone of the country’s travel distribution network.
The TIA confirmed it has sent formal email representations to both the DGCA and MoCA, while simultaneously communicating its concerns directly to the leadership of IndiGo and Air India Group.
The alliance has pledged to continue its advocacy until the policy is applied across all booking platforms, ensuring that the travel trade is not placed at a competitive disadvantage.
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