DGCA: ‘Children up to 12 years of age should be seated with at least one parent during flight’, DGCA directs.

Children up to 12 years of age will now get seats in the aircraft only along with their parents or guardians. Civil aviation regulator DGCA asked airlines to ensure that children of this age get seats with their parents during flights. The aviation regulator has taken this step after receiving continuous complaints that children were not allotted seats along with their families.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday said it has directed all airlines to ensure that children up to 12 years of age are accommodated with one of their parents or guardians and a record of the same should be maintained. DGCA has modified its circular (Air Transport Circular-01) issued regarding services and fees of scheduled airlines.

As per the said circular, certain services like preferential seat allotment, no charges for food-snacks, beverages and carrying of musical instruments are allowed. However, such services are provided by the airline on a voluntary basis. These are not mandatory.