**Executive Summary**
On March 18, 2026, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), issued new directions to enhance passenger convenience, transparency, and uniformity across the Indian aviation sector. These measures address seat allocation, baggage policies, and the communication of passenger rights to support the nation’s rapidly growing domestic market. The initiatives aim to reduce grievances and ensure fair access for the more than five lakh daily passengers currently traveling in India.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Seat Allocation and Group Seating**
* A minimum of 60% of seats on any given flight must be allocated to passengers free of charge to ensure fair access.
* Airlines are directed to seat passengers traveling under the same PNR together, with a preference for adjacent seating.
* **Specialized Carriage Policies**
* Carriage of musical instruments and sports equipment must be facilitated in a transparent, passenger-friendly manner, adhering to safety regulations.
* Airlines are required to develop and publish clear, transparent policies regarding the carriage of pets.
* **Passenger Rights and Regulatory Adherence**
* Airlines must ensure strict adherence to the passenger rights framework, specifically concerning flight delays, cancellations, and denied boarding.
* Passenger rights must be prominently displayed on all airline websites, mobile applications, booking platforms, and at airport counters.
* **Accessibility and Communication**
* To ensure wider awareness, passenger entitlements must be communicated clearly in regional languages.
* These measures build upon existing airport initiatives such as UDAN Yatri Cafés, Flybrary (free books), and free Wi-Fi.
**Impact Analysis**
**Airlines**
**Impact**
Airlines must adjust their seat inventory management to comply with the 60% free seat mandate and modify seating logic for group bookings. They are also required to formalize and publish specific policies for pets and specialized equipment.
**Action Required**
Update all digital and physical touchpoints (websites, apps, counters) to prominently display passenger rights and provide communications in regional languages.
**Passengers**
**Impact**
Travelers gain improved access to cost-free seating, better assurance of sitting with travel companions, and clearer information regarding their rights and specialized baggage options.
**Action Required**
Review updated airline policies and displayed entitlements to ensure awareness of rights during instances of delays or cancellations.
**Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)**
**Impact**
The DGCA serves as the regulatory vehicle through which the Ministry’s directions are issued and enforced.
**Action Required**
Monitor airline compliance with the new directions to ensure industry-wide uniformity and the reduction of passenger grievances.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The primary government body responsible for formulating policies and issuing directions to enhance passenger facilitation in the aviation sector.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The regulatory authority through which the Ministry issued specific directions regarding seat allocation, passenger seating, and carriage policies.
UDAN scheme: A regional connectivity initiative aimed at making air travel more accessible and inclusive, under which various passenger-centric initiatives are launched.
Passenger rights framework: The regulatory set of guidelines that airlines must strictly follow regarding delays, cancellations, and denied boarding.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Strengthening Passenger Facilitation in Indian
Aviation
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 8:56AM by PIB Delhi
India has emerged as the third-largest domestic aviation market globally, with air travel becoming
increasingly accessible and inclusive under the UDAN scheme. Indian airports today handle over five lakh
passengers daily, reflecting the rapid growth of the sector.
Passenger facilitation remains the highest priority of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. In line with this
commitment, the Ministry has undertaken several passenger-centric initiatives to enhance ease of travel,
including UDAN Yatri Cafés for affordable food, Flybrary for free access to books and provision of free
Wi-Fi at airports.
To further strengthen passenger convenience, transparency and uniformity of practices across airlines, the
Ministry has issued the following directions through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):
Minimum 60% of seats on any flight to be allocated free of charge to ensure fair access
Passengers travelling on the same PNR to be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats
Carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments to be facilitated in a transparent and
passenger-friendly manner, subject to applicable safety and operational regulations. Airlines shall
also bring out clear, transparent policies for carriage of pets.
Strict adherence to passenger rights framework, particularly in cases of delays, cancellations and
denied boarding
Prominent display of passenger rights across airline websites, mobile applications, booking
platforms, and airport counters
Clear communication of passenger entitlements in regional languages to ensure wider accessibility
and awareness
The Ministry of Civil Aviation remains committed to enhancing passenger experience, ensuring
transparency, reducing grievances and upholding the highest standards of safety across the aviation
ecosystem.
***
Divyanshu Kumar
(Release ID: 2241546) Visitor Counter : 9931
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