Flying soon? DGCA Directs Airlines To Share Passenger Rights Link With Tickets

DGCA's New Rule for Flyers 

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Indian airlines to link passengers to their rights when issuing air tickets. As air travel grows notably—particularly among first-time flyers—DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai stressed the need to inform passengers about their rights regarding service shortcomings, delays caused by airline factors, cancellations, denied boarding, and baggage problems. IndiGo has reportedly assured the regulator it will follow this directive by Tuesday, March 2025.

“All airlines must actively communicate passenger-centric regulations and rights,” a DGCA official was quoted saying.

“Airlines are required to send an online link to the passenger charter—available on the aviation ministry’s website—via SMS or WhatsApp after ticket booking. This link should also be included on tickets and airline websites. Just as passengers have responsibilities while traveling, they should also be aware of their rights.”

Officials added that airlines are updating their systems to enhance communication on passenger rights, flight delays, and grievance redressal mechanisms.

To comply with regulations, IndiGo has notified the regulator that ticket bookings now feature a "Click Here" link in the "Notes" section. This link takes passengers to the DGCA's passenger charter page. Furthermore, the charter is also available in the "Quick Links" section on the airline's website.

DGCA vs Airlines

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in conflict with Indian airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, regarding a new directive that mandates the submission of detailed airfare data from the last two years.

The regulator is requesting detailed passenger fare information, such as booking dates and base fares, to examine pricing trends in light of public concerns over expensive airfares during peak seasons. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the digitization partner for DGCA, has been tasked with analyzing the data. Airlines have refused to share such data, saying that it is commercially sensitive and proprietary to them.