Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi has ordered a probe into allegedly excessive cancellation charges levied by online air ticket booking platforms, after concerns were raised that some portals may be charging more than the airlines themselves or levying fees that were not clearly disclosed at the time of booking. Joshi said such practices undermine transparency and consumer trust.
The issue surfaced after BJP Yuva Morcha national secretary Tajinder Bagga posted an example on X involving an Akasa Air ticket booked through Agoda, highlighting a sharp difference between the cancellation fee shown by the online booking platform and the amount displayed directly by the airline.
Bagga said the platform displayed a cancellation fee of Rs 4,764 and a refund of Rs 1,571, while the airline’s own website showed a much lower deduction of Rs 299 and a refund of Rs 6,076. That comparison prompted the minister to direct the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Central Consumer Protection Authority to examine the matter.
Joshi said the probe will assess whether online ticket booking platforms are imposing cancellation charges beyond what airlines actually levy or beyond what was disclosed to consumers at the time of booking. He also said the Department of Consumer Affairs and the CCPA have been asked to examine other online ticket booking platforms as well, not just the one named in the complaint.
Joshi said that if the charges are found to be unfair or not properly disclosed, they may amount to an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The ministry has indicated that the CCPA can take necessary action where consumer harm is established, including class action style intervention where appropriate.
I have directed the Department of Consumer Affairs and CCPA to investigate whether online ticket booking platforms are imposing excessive cancellation charges on consumers, beyond what is charged by airlines or disclosed at the time of booking. Have directed them to check other… https://t.co/Ctufn1oorD
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) May 23, 2026
The issue has gained visibility at a time when users are increasingly comparing cancellation terms shown by third party platforms with those listed directly by airlines. The latest action adds regulatory pressure on online travel portals at a moment when flight pricing and cancellations are already under strain from wider aviation cost pressures.
