Under the DGCA’s passenger-care rules (CAR Section 3, Series M), Indian airlines must provide free meals and refreshments during long delays, and hotel accommodation when a delay stretches overnight, as long as the delay is within the airline’s control. The exact wait before meals depends on your flight’s length. Weather, ATC and other extraordinary events are excluded.
Updated July 2026 · HappyFares
A long delay is frustrating, but you may be owed more than an apology. India’s aviation regulator sets clear duties for airlines when your flight runs late, from a meal voucher to a hotel room. Here is what the DGCA rules actually promise, and where they stop.
What care must airlines provide during a flight delay?
The DGCA’s Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on passenger facilities, summarised in its Passenger Charter, requires airlines to look after you during a long delay at no charge. That duty of care scales with how long you are stuck. It typically begins with meals and refreshments in line with the waiting time, and rises to hotel accommodation, with transfers, once a delay runs overnight or into the next day.
Importantly, this care applies when the delay is within the airline’s control, for example a crew, engineering or operational issue. It is offered regardless of your fare type, so a cheap ticket does not remove your right to a meal during a qualifying delay.
How long before you get a free meal?
Under the DGCA CAR, the wait before meals kick in is tied to your flight’s scheduled length, or block time. As a general rule, the longer the flight, the longer the delay before the meal obligation begins. The broad structure looks like the table below, though you should confirm the exact current thresholds in the CAR itself.
| Scheduled flight length | Delay before meals typically apply |
|---|---|
| Short, up to about 2.5 hours | Around 2 hours or more |
| Medium, about 2.5 to 5 hours | Around 3 hours or more |
| Long, more than about 5 hours | Around 4 hours or more |
These are the general tiers set out by the DGCA. Treat the figures as indicative rather than exact, and check the latest version of the CAR, since the rules are revised from time to time.
When does a delay get you a hotel room or a refund?
Once a delay runs overnight, the DGCA rules expect the airline to arrange hotel accommodation, along with transport between the airport and the hotel, again where the delay is the airline’s responsibility. This is the point at which a delayed evening flight has effectively become a next-morning departure.
If the delay becomes very long, or the airline reschedules to a time that does not suit you, you can usually choose a full refund instead of waiting, or ask to be moved to an alternative flight. Straight cash compensation is not the standard remedy for a plain delay under the CAR; that mostly applies to denied boarding. If a delay tips over into a cancellation, the separate cancellation rules on refunds and alternate flights take over.
Do these rules apply to weather and ATC delays?
This is the big exception. The DGCA CAR excuses airlines from the meal and hotel obligations when a delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control. That covers bad weather such as winter fog or heavy monsoon, air-traffic-control restrictions, security alerts, political unrest and natural events.
So during a Delhi winter fog that grounds dozens of flights, an airline is not legally bound by these care rules, even though the delay is very real. Many carriers still hand out water, snacks or hotel help as a goodwill gesture, but it is discretionary. It is worth asking politely and tracking your rebooking in the airline app, while not expecting a guaranteed meal or room when the cause is weather or ATC.
Common Questions
Does DGCA give cash compensation for flight delays?
Generally no. The CAR focuses on care, meaning meals and, if needed, a hotel, plus the option of a refund if you decide not to travel. Fixed cash compensation is mainly linked to denied boarding, not to an ordinary delay, so do not expect an automatic payout for a late flight.
Are meal rules the same for low-cost airlines like IndiGo?
Yes. The DGCA duty of care applies to all scheduled Indian carriers, full-service and low-cost alike, regardless of the fare you paid. As long as the qualifying delay is within the airline’s control, a budget ticket still entitles you to the same meals and refreshments.
What if my flight is delayed by fog in winter?
Weather counts as an extraordinary circumstance, so the airline is not obliged to provide meals or a hotel for a fog delay. Many still help as a goodwill gesture, especially on overnight disruptions, but treat it as a courtesy rather than a guaranteed right you can claim.
Can I get a refund if my flight is delayed by several hours?
Usually yes, if you decide not to travel or the rescheduled time does not suit you. Under the CAR you can generally ask for a full refund instead of waiting, or request an alternative flight. The choice is meant to be yours once a delay becomes unreasonable.
Where can I read the actual DGCA rule?
Look for the DGCA CAR, Section 3, Series M, on passenger facilities, along with the Passenger Charter, on the DGCA and AirSewa websites. Always check the current version, as the thresholds and wording are updated periodically by the regulator.
Delays are part of flying, but the right timing lowers the odds. Compare schedules and fares on HappyFares, and pick a departure that gives your day a little room to breathe.
DGCA rules, thresholds, and fees can change; verify the current specifics with the airline or the DGCA before you travel or make a claim.
