India's DGCA Proposes Stricter Rules for Unruly Air Passengers

India's aviation regulator has proposed significant changes to its rules for handling disruptive passengers, including a provision that would allow airlines to impose an immediate 30-day flying ban for certain offenses. The draft amendment to the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) reflects a stricter approach to in-flight security and passenger conduct.

Shift Towards Airline Autonomy

The proposal from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) aims to empower carriers with more direct authority to manage unruly behavior. Under the draft rules, an airline could issue a flying ban for up to 30 days without first referring the case to an independent committee. This immediate action would apply to specific violations such as smoking, consuming alcohol on domestic flights, or misusing emergency equipment. This move is part of a broader 'No/Zero Tolerance Policy' designed to maintain order and safety on board, as stated in the DGCA's draft.

Currently, the existing CAR allows an airline to ban a passenger for up to 45 days, but only while the independent committee's decision is pending. The new proposal streamlines the initial response for clear-cut disruptive acts. For more complex cases, the independent committee structure, which includes a representative from another airline, will remain in place to decide on longer-term bans.

Tiered Penalties and Global Context

The DGCA maintains a tiered system for classifying offenses and their corresponding penalties. The draft rules outline specific ban durations based on severity:

• Level 1: Up to three months for offenses like verbal harassment or unruly inebriation.
• Level 2: Up to six months for physically abusive behavior.
• Level 3 & 4: A minimum of two years, with no upper limit, for life-threatening behavior or breaching the flight crew compartment.

This regulatory update comes as unruly passenger incidents are increasing globally. According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the rate of incidents rose from one for every 568 flights in 2022 to one for every 480 flights in 2023.

Next Steps

As part of the proposed Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs), airlines will also be required to formulate and implement a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling unruly passengers and reporting incidents to the DGCA. The draft is currently under review before being finalized and implemented across India's aviation sector.

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