The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has made changes to improve child seating arrangements on airlines. Now, DGCA mandates the airlines to provide seats to children below the age of 12 years near at least one of the parents or guardians.
The DGCA circular now requires airlines to allot seats to children up to 12 years of age with at least one of their parents/guardians, traveling on the same Passenger Name Record (PNR). In addition, airlines are required to keep a register of these seating arrangements.
“Airlines should ensure that children up to the age of 12 are allotted seats with at least one of their parents/guardians, traveling on the same Passenger Name Record (PNR), and that a record of the same is maintained,” the spokesperson said. DGCA in a release.
Under the revised Air Transport Circular (ATC)-01 of 2024, entitled “Unbundling of Services and Fees by Scheduled Airlines”, according to which some services such as zero baggage, preferential seating, meal/snack/drink charges, musical fare charges, Instruments etc. have been cleared by the DGCA.
It further added, “Such unbundled services are provided by airlines on an “opt-in” basis and are not mandatory in nature. There is also a provision for automatic seat assignment to passengers who have not selected a seat for online check-in before the scheduled date . departure”
“Airlines must ensure that children up to the age of 12 years are allotted seats with at least one of their parents/guardians, traveling on the same PNR, and a record of the same is maintained,” the DGCA said.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the regulatory body for civil aviation and mainly deals with safety issues. It is responsible for the regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for the enforcement of civil air regulations, air transport services. safety and airworthiness standards. The DGCA also coordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organization.
