DGCA Mandates Airlines to Seat Children Under 12 With Parents or Guardians on Same PNR

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has advised all airlines that children up to the age of 12 are allocated seats with at least one of their parents or guardians.

India's aviation regulator has announced a new rule aimed at improving the travel experience for families with young children. The rule mandates that airlines allocate seats together for children under 12 and at least one of their parents or guardians travelling on the same Passenger Name Record (PNR). Additionally, airlines will be required to maintain a record of these seat assignments.

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“Airlines shall ensure that children upto the age of 12 years are allocated seats with atleast one of their parents/guardians, who are travelling on the same PNR and a record of the same shall be maintained,” DGCA says. pic.twitter.com/FuGCXJFzBW

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2024

This new regulation addresses a common concern for parents flying with young children - the possibility of being separated during seating allocation.  Having a young child seated alone on a plane can be stressful for both the child and the parent.