Carriage by Air guidelines for Persons with Disability and Persons with Reduced Mobility

The Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) of Ministry of Civil Aviation lays down regulations for carriage of persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) and reduced mobility by air in order to protect them against any form of discrimination and to ensure that they receive all possible assistance during their travel.

The CAR is issued under the provisions of Section 5(2)(ab) of Aircraft Act 1934, Rule 133 A of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and Ministry of Civil Aviation letter No. AV.13030/72/2012-DT dated 6th March, 2013 and amended during July 2022, for information, guidance and compliance by the concerned agencies.

Applicability

The provisions contained in this CAR shall be applicable to the following:

• All Indian operators engaged in scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services both domestic and international for carriage of passengers.
• All foreign carriers engaged in scheduled air transport operating to and from Indian Territory.
• All airport operators within Indian Territory

Salient points

• No airline shall refuse to carry persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility and their assistive aids/devices, escorts and guide dogs including their presence in the cabin, provided such persons or their representatives, at the time of booking, inform the airline of their requirement(s).
• Airlines including their agents shall make available in accessible format, on their website, the safety rules that apply to the carriage of persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility as well as any restrictions on their carriage or on the mobility equipment due to the size of aircraft.
• Airlines including their travel agents shall not discriminate the persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility in providing access for internet ticketing, special/discounted fares, time limit for holding the bookings, reservations on telephone, etc.
• To facilitate the carriage of persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility, airlines shall obtain necessary information about the specific requirements of such persons at the time of ticketing/online booking process or through the call centers. 
• It shall be the responsibility of the persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility to notify their needs at least 48 hours before the scheduled time of departure so that the airline makes necessary arrangements, which may include but not limited to the following:
  • nature and level of special assistance required while embarking, disembarking and during in-flight;
  • mobility equipment and assistive devices that need to be carried by the airline either in cabin and/or aircraft hold;
  • requirement of escort.  
• Once persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility report at the airport with valid booking and intention to travel, the airline shall provide assistance to meet their particular needs and ensure their seamless travel from the departure terminal of the departing airport upto the aircraft and at the end of the journey from the aircraft to the arrival terminal exit, without any additional expenses.
• Passengers who intend to check-in with their own wheelchair shall be given the option of using a station/airport wheelchair. If the passengers prefer to use their own wheelchair, they shall be permitted to use it provided the wheelchair conforms to specifications
• For embarkation/disembarkation and in-flight use, the wide-body aircraft that have more than one aisle, shall have an on-board wheel chair. The wheel chair shall be designed to be compatible with the maneuvering space, aisle width, and seat height of the aircraft on which it is to be used.
• No airline shall refuse to carry passengers in a stretcher or incubator, subject to limitation of aircraft, when they are accompanied by an escort, provided such a person is capable of attending to the passenger’s medical needs during embarking, disembarking, in-flight and emergency evacuation. 
• To ensure safety of aircraft operations, the maximum number of nonambulatory persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility permitted
  to travel in a single flight shall not be more than the number of cabin crew except when such passengers are accompanied by trained escorts.
• Airlines shall provide convenient seats that are designated as accessible for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) with adequate leg space free of charge, which should remain blocked until close to the time of departure
• Where a person with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility is assisted by an escort, the airline shall make all reasonable efforts to give such a person seat next to the persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility.
• It shall be the responsibility of the cabin crew in-charge to ensure briefing to persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility including their escorts, if any, before take-off on the emergency procedures, cabin layout and specialized equipment on board the aircraft to cater for their needs.
• Airlines shall ensure that persons with disability or reduced mobility are boarded separately (normally prior to all other passengers) as well as
  disembarked separately (normally after all other passengers have left the cabin) in order to facilitate the procedure of embarkation and disembarkation and to provide the necessary assistance to them.
• Airlines shall make suitable arrangements for assisting persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility for their quick clearance and baggage delivery
• Airlines shall not insist on medical certificate or special forms from persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility who wish to travel without an escort and only require special assistance at an airport for embarking/disembarking and a reasonable accommodation in flight
• Airport operator shall display signages throughout the airport including terminal building in a clear and unambiguous manner as per international standards. 
• All areas and services in the terminal building that are open to the public shall be accessible to persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility.
• All equipment provided for use by general public such as telephones, internet service, etc. should also be accessible to persons with disability (Divyangjan) or reduced mobility including those with sensory impairments.

To read the complete guidelines, click here.

Source : Ministry of Civil Aviation