Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 18: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued fresh guidelines aimed at enhancing passenger convenience and ensuring uniform practices across airlines, particularly on seat allocation, delays, and cancellations.

The new directions focus on strengthening passenger rights and improving transparency in airline operations. A key highlight is the mandate that at least 60 per cent of seats on any flight must be allocated free of charge to ensure fair access.

Passengers travelling under the same PNR will now be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats. The DGCA has also directed airlines to adopt clear and passenger-friendly policies for the carriage of sports equipment, musical instruments, and pets, while adhering to safety norms.

Airlines have been instructed to strictly follow passenger rights frameworks in cases of delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. These rights must be prominently displayed on airline websites, mobile apps, booking platforms, and airport counters.

To improve accessibility, the regulator has also mandated that information on passenger entitlements be communicated in regional languages.

The move builds on earlier passenger-centric initiatives such as affordable airport cafés, free access to books, and complimentary Wi-Fi services at airports.

India’s aviation sector continues to witness rapid growth, emerging as the world’s third-largest domestic market. The number of airports has increased from 74 in 2014 to 162 as of September 2025.

Passenger traffic reached 237.42 million during April–October FY26, while freight traffic stood at 2.28 million metric tonnes. Domestic air travel is projected to grow by 7–10 per cent in FY26, reaching up to 181 million passengers.