The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a directive to all airlines operating in India, mandating them to allocate seats for children up to the age of 12 years with at least one of their parents or guardians on the same flight.
This directive comes in response to instances where children below the age of 12 were not seated alongside their parents or guardians during flights. The DGCA’s press note emphasizes that airlines must ensure compliance with this regulation and maintain a record of such seat assignments.
The DGCA has also revised the Air Transport Circular on unbundling services and fees by scheduled airlines. This circular allows airlines to offer certain services, such as zero baggage, preferential seating, meals/snacks/drinks, and charges for carrying musical instruments, on an opt-in basis. These services are not mandatory and passengers can choose to avail them or not.
The DGCA has also clarified that there is a provision for auto seat assignment for passengers who do not select their seats during web check-in before the scheduled departure.
India’s civil aviation market is one of the fastest-growing in the world, and domestic air traffic is on the rise. The DGCA’s directives aim to enhance the safety and well-being of passengers, particularly children, while traveling by air.
