Air India flight AI 379 lands at an airport in Phuket, Thailand
India’s aviation sector is undergoing significant transformation as the government introduces new passenger-focused reforms while the investigation into last year’s Air India Boeing 787 crash continues.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has announced a series of measures aimed at improving convenience, transparency, and accessibility across India’s fast-growing aviation industry. The reforms come as Indian authorities prepare an interim; rather than final; report into the June 2025 Air India crash that killed 260 people.
The new DGCA guidelines require airlines to allocate at least 60% of seats free of charge and ensure passengers travelling under the same booking are seated together where possible.
Airlines must also improve transparency regarding sports equipment, musical instruments, pets, delays, cancellations, and denied boarding compensation. Passenger rights are to be displayed clearly across websites, booking platforms, airport counters, and mobile applications, with greater communication in regional languages.
