Airlines can’t deny boarding to differently-abled travellers, DGCA

Published : Jul 22, 2022 19:41 IST To help differently-abled travellers to board flights hassle-free, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has amended a key Civil Aviation Requirement. According to the DGCA’s latest amendment, starting July 21, airlines cannot deny boarding to any person on the basis of disability and/or reduced mobility without a doctor examining the person and stating that the said passenger’s health may deteriorate during the course of the journey. The DGCA’s amendment to CAR Section-3, Series M Part I “Carriage by Air — Persons with Disability and/or Persons with Reduced Mobility” comes in the wake of an incident on May 7 at Ranchi airport when ground staff of IndiGo refused to allow a differently-abled child to board the Ranchi–Hyderabad flight, saying that the child, who was admittedly agitated, would be a risk to other passengers. The DGCA pointed out that the finding of the committee prima facie indicated inappropriate and insensitive handling of the differently-abled child and his parents by the IndiGo staff, resulting in certain non-conformances with applicable regulations. The amendment has been carried out at Para 4.1.35 of the CAR, which now reads: “Airline shall not refuse carriage of any person on the basis of disability and/or reduced mobility.