Tag: DGCA

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Airlines must give 60% seats free from April 20

In a big relief for air travellers, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has ordered airlines to provide at least 60% of seats on every flight free of cost from April 20, 2026.

This means passengers will not have to pay extra to select many of the seats while booking tickets. Until now, airlines were offering only a small number of seats for free, and most passengers had to pay additional charges to choose seats like window or aisle.

The new rule aims to reduce these extra costs and make ticket pricing clearer for travellers. Many passengers had complained that airlines were adding high seat selection fees, making flights more expensive than expected.

Under the new guideline, more than half of the seats on a flight must be available without any extra charge. However, airlines can still charge for certain premium seats, such as those with extra legroom or special locations.

The DGCA has also asked airlines to make sure that passengers travelling on the same booking are seated together as much as possible. This will help families and groups avoid paying extra money just to sit next to each other.

Another important part of the rule is transparency. Airlines must clearly show all optional charges, including seat selection fees, during ticket booking. This will help passengers understand the total cost before making a payment.

Airlines, however, are not fully happy with this decision. They say that seat selection fees are an important source of income. With fewer paid seats, airlines may try to recover the loss by increasing basic ticket prices in the future.

Experts believe the move will benefit passengers immediately by lowering hidden costs. But they also warn that ticket prices could change depending on how airlines adjust to the new rule.

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Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet oppose free seat mandate

India’s leading airlines, Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, have expressed strong opposition to a new government rule requiring them to make 60% of flight seats free for selection. Airlines warn that this could force higher base airfares to compensate for lost revenue.

The DGCA, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, introduced the directive to protect passengers from hidden charges and make booking more transparent. While passengers would benefit from free seat selection on most seats, airlines claim the mandate limits their ability to earn from optional services like preferred window, aisle, and extra-legroom seats.

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) said seat selection fees are a critical source of ancillary revenue. Losing this income, they argue, would hurt airlines financially, especially as operational costs rise and competition remains stiff. According to industry data, charges for preferred seats currently range from ₹200 to ₹2,100 per passenger.

Airlines also raised concerns about government overreach, saying commercial decisions such as pricing and seat allocation should remain under their control. They warned that enforcing the 60% free seat mandate could distort fare structures, potentially impacting ticket pricing and service tiers.

While the government intends to benefit passengers, experts warn that airlines may adjust base fares upwards to recoup lost income. This could mean that, despite free seat selection, the overall cost of travel might rise.

The debate highlights a broader tension in India’s aviation sector: balancing consumer-friendly policies with the financial realities of airlines. Passengers may gain in terms of transparency, but the industry insists on sustainable revenue streams to maintain services and profitability.

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DGCA allows 48‑hour free flight cancellations

Air travel just got a lot more flexible for passengers in India. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced new rules allowing travellers to cancel or change their flight bookings within 48 hours of purchase without paying any fees. This means if you book a ticket and quickly realise your plans have changed, you can cancel or modify it without worrying about losing money.

Previously, many airlines charged cancellation or change fees even for tickets cancelled soon after booking. Under the new regulation, all domestic airlines must honour this 48‑hour free window, giving passengers a fair chance to adjust their plans, especially if flights were booked in a hurry or prices changed shortly after purchase.

The DGCA has also introduced a clear refund timeline. Airlines are now required to process all refunds within 14 days, whether it’s a cancellation under the 48‑hour rule or other situations like flight delays, schedule changes, or airline-initiated cancellations. This ensures travellers don’t have to wait weeks to get their money back.

Industry experts say the move will make air travel less stressful and boost confidence among passengers, particularly during peak travel periods or when booking last-minute trips. Airlines are updating their systems to comply, and passengers are encouraged to check their airline’s policies and reach out to customer service if there’s any delay in refunds.

For travellers, this change means more control, transparency, and peace of mind. Whether it’s a sudden change in plans, an unexpected work commitment, or a better deal elsewhere, flyers now have the freedom to manage their bookings quickly and easily.

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DGCA fines Air India ₹1 crore over safety

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a ₹1 crore fine on Air India after finding that one of the airline’s Airbus A320 aircraft operated eight passenger flights in November 2025 without a valid airworthiness permit. This permit is a mandatory certification that confirms an aircraft is safe and fit to fly. Operating flights without it is a serious breach of aviation safety rules.

The DGCA noted that such lapses erode public confidence in air travel safety, and emphasized that accountability rests with airline management. The regulator specifically held Air India CEO Campbell Wilson and other senior officials responsible for the oversight. The fine is required to be paid within 30 days, and the airline has been instructed to ensure strict compliance with all regulatory norms moving forward.

Air India has said that the issue was self-reported voluntarily and that corrective steps have already been implemented to prevent recurrence. The airline also stated that no safety incidents occurred during the eight flights in question.

This fine comes amid heightened scrutiny of Air India’s operations following a tragic Boeing crash last year that resulted in multiple fatalities. Aviation experts say the DGCA’s action underscores the importance of maintaining strict safety standards, especially as airlines expand their fleets and increase flight operations.

The DGCA’s investigation revealed that the lapse was primarily due to administrative oversight. While the aircraft itself remained mechanically sound, the absence of the formal airworthiness certificate constitutes a regulatory violation. Aviation authorities highlight that even minor paperwork lapses can undermine public trust and have legal consequences, which is why regulators are taking a firm stance.

The incident has sparked discussion in the industry about the need for stronger internal checks and robust monitoring systems within airlines. Experts suggest that airlines must reinforce both technical compliance and operational oversight to ensure that safety procedures are not compromised.

Air India’s management has assured passengers that safety remains its top priority and that measures have been strengthened to comply fully with DGCA guidelines. The fine, though significant, is seen by regulators as a corrective step rather than a punitive measure, aimed at reinforcing accountability and protecting passenger trust.

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DGCA fines IndiGo ₹22.2 cr for Dec. flight disruptions

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has imposed a ₹22.2 crore penalty on IndiGo Airlines for large-scale flight disruptions that occurred in December, triggering widespread passenger inconvenience and renewed debate over airline accountability.

The action follows a detailed inquiry ordered by the DGCA after IndiGo faced severe operational breakdowns during the first week of December. Over a span of three days, the airline cancelled more than 2,500 flights and delayed nearly 1,900 services, leaving over three lakh passengers stranded across major airports. The disruption coincided with the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms for pilots, which aim to reduce fatigue and enhance flight safety.

According to the DGCA, the crisis was not caused by a single factor but by systemic planning failures. The regulator cited over-ambitious scheduling, insufficient buffer in crew and aircraft deployment, weaknesses in operational software systems, and inadequate preparedness for the new duty norms. These shortcomings, it said, exposed gaps in IndiGo’s management oversight and operational control mechanisms.

Of the total fine, ₹1.8 crore relates to one-time violations of aviation safety and operational rules. The remaining ₹20.4 crore was levied for continued non-compliance over several weeks, during which IndiGo sought repeated exemptions from full implementation of the revised duty norms while continuing to operate a dense flight schedule.

In addition to the monetary penalty, the DGCA issued warnings to senior IndiGo executives, including top management, for failing to anticipate and manage the operational fallout. The regulator also directed changes in responsibility within the airline’s operations control structure.

To ensure long-term corrective action, IndiGo has been asked to submit a ₹50 crore bank guarantee under a Systemic Reform Assurance Plan. The guarantee will be released in phases, subject to DGCA verification of improvements in crew planning, fatigue management, digital systems, leadership oversight, and governance practices.

The penalty has sparked mixed reactions across the aviation sector. While some pilots’ bodies and experts argue the fine is inadequate given the scale of passenger hardship, others point out that existing laws limit the DGCA’s ability to impose harsher financial penalties.

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DGCA bans power bank use on flights

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has banned using power banks to charge devices on flights to prevent fire hazards from lithium-ion batteries.

Passengers can carry power banks and spare batteries only in hand luggage, not in checked bags or overhead compartments. Airlines are required to inform travelers about these safety rules and ensure compliance.

The move follows global concerns over in-flight fires caused by improperly handled or charged power banks. Travelers should also avoid using seat charging ports for power banks to reduce the risk of onboard accidents.

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DGCA submits probe report on IndiGo disruptions

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has submitted its investigation report into the recent large-scale flight disruptions at IndiGo to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The report follows weeks of scrutiny after thousands of passengers were affected by widespread cancellations and delays across the airline’s domestic network earlier this month.

A four-member committee was set up by the aviation regulator on December 5 to examine what led to the operational breakdown. The panel reviewed IndiGo’s crew planning systems, roster management, compliance with revised Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, and overall preparedness for schedule changes during the busy travel season. The findings of the report have been kept confidential while the government studies the recommendations.

IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, faced severe disruption when a large number of flights were cancelled within a short period, followed by prolonged delays over several days. The airline informed the regulator that challenges in forecasting pilot and cabin crew availability, along with training and rostering gaps, contributed to the crisis. These issues reportedly escalated after new duty time rules came into force.

In response to the situation, the DGCA had earlier ordered a temporary reduction in IndiGo’s winter schedule and issued show-cause notices to senior executives, including top management, seeking explanations for the failures. The regulator also stressed that airlines must ensure full operational readiness before implementing schedule expansions.

With the probe report now submitted, officials have indicated that strict action could follow. Possible measures include financial penalties, tighter regulatory oversight, and directions to strengthen internal systems to prevent recurrence. The government has signalled that accountability will be enforced to protect passenger interests and ensure operational discipline.

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