Are airline tickets refundable?

The answer is yes and no.

If you'd like to purchase a refundable airline ticket make sure you specify so in your order. If you are shopping online from a third party website pay special attention since most of those are non-refundable.

You should purchase the ticket directly from the airline's website or over the phone, just make sure you ask for a refundable ticket (they are usually more expensive though).

It depends where you get them from, if they say refundable (usually minus a fee) and if you purchase travel or cancellation insurance. The best thing to do is to discuss everything with the company you are getting them from before purchasing them to make sure they are what you need and that there are no surprises.