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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued new guidelines to airlines on Wednesday focused on clearer rules to protect passengers and improve comfort. The Indian aviation sector has grown rapidly in recent years, but many areas were not properly regulated, leading to concerns about passenger safety and service quality that the new guidelines aim to address. Air travel has become more affordable under the UDAN scheme, so millions now prefer flying as their main mode of transportation. Airports across the country handle over five lakh passengers daily, showing strong demand. With many first-time flyers, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has introduced new steps to make travel easier, more open and fair. Airlines will also have to follow rules that are clear and the same everywhere they operate.
Under the latest guidelines, the ministry has asked the airline companies to ensure that at least 60 per cent of the seats on every flight are available without any extra charge. This will help in eliminating the confusion among passengers regarding fees for seat selection. Earlier, nearly 80 to 85 percent of seats, particularly window seats, were subject to extra charges.
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Aside from that, the government also ensured that passengers travelling under one PNR are seated together, preferably on adjacent seats, benefiting the families as well as senior citizens, as they sometimes face difficulties during boarding.
The government has also addressed the carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments, as the airlines are now expected to follow clear and transparent rules while handling such items. At the same time, they must publish easy-to-understand policies for carrying pets, an area that has often caused confusion among travellers.
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Passenger rights remain a strong focus. Airlines have been told to strictly follow the rules in cases of delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. In addition, all airlines must clearly display passenger rights on their websites, mobile apps, booking platforms and airport counters.
To make information more accessible, the ministry has asked airlines to communicate with passengers in regional languages as well. This is expected to help a wider section of travellers understand their rights.
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Other than the above-mentioned, passenger-friendly services like UDAN Yatri Cafes, Flybrary, and free Wi-Fi are also being introduced at airports to continue supporting a smoother travel experience. The government says these measures will reduce complaints and build greater trust in air travel.