DGCA: The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have announced that all airlines in India would now have to offer 60 percent seat selections free of charge. Presently, airlines charge extra for window and aisle seats. There are also extra charges for seats having extra legroom while seats in the middle row or at the rear end of the flight usually don’t attract extra charges.
DGCA Announcements At A Glance
The Ministry also announced that passengers travelling on the same Passenger Name Record (PNR) should be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats. This has been a demand by group travellers, couples and large families for long.
The DGCA has also emphasized on the requirement to safeguard the rights of passengers in cases of cancellations, denial of boarding or delays. Airlines have been asked to display passenger rights prominently on their mobile apps, airport counters, websites and booking platforms. Moreover, DGCA has also urged airlines to facilitate clear communication of passenger entitlements in regional languages to make sure that passengers gain better awareness and accessibility.
In addition to these changes, the DGCA has also asked airlines to facilitate smooth, passenger-friendly and transparent execution of the carriage of musical instruments and sports equipment in accordance with applicable operational and safety regulations. Airlines have also been instructed to lay out transparent and clear policies for carriage of pets.
Overall Passenger Experience Improvements
For long, airline passengers have been requesting for these announcements. Airlines have also been urged to assist in improving the overall passenger experience. The Ministry highlighted a series of passenger-centric initiatives such as economical food outlets under Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) Yatri Cafes, free Wi-Fi facilities at airports and free book access via Flybrary. These measures would help the aviation industry improve transparency and ease of travel while reducing passenger grievances.
