India’s DGCA Proposes 30‑Day Airline Bans for Unruly Passengers
Updated (2 articles)
Draft Expands Authority to Impose Immediate Bans The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is drafting rule changes that would let airlines impose flying bans of up to 30 days without referring cases to the independent committee, shifting enforcement power from the regulator to carriers[1]. This move aims to streamline responses to disruptive behavior and reduce procedural delays. Airlines would gain direct discretion to enforce penalties promptly.
Six New Conduct Categories Added to Definition The proposal broadens “unruly behaviour” to include six additional actions: smoking on board, alcohol consumption on domestic flights, tampering with emergency exits, unauthorized use of life‑saving equipment, protest or sloganeering, and intoxication‑related conduct[1]. These categories target a wider range of safety threats observed in recent incidents. The expanded list reflects concerns about both passenger safety and cabin crew authority.
Current Process Involves 45‑Day Independent Review Under existing regulations, airlines must report disruptive passengers to an independent panel headed by a retired district and sessions judge, which decides within 45 days whether to place the individual on the official no‑fly list[1]. The panel’s decision is binding and creates a formal record of bans. The new draft would bypass this step for short‑term bans.
Rising Global Unruly Incidents Prompt Regulatory Action The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that worldwide there was one unruly‑passenger incident per 480 flights in 2023, up from one per 568 flights in 2022, indicating a growing safety concern[1]. This upward trend has pressured regulators to consider stricter measures. The DGCA’s proposal aligns with global efforts to curb disruptive behavior.
Experts Warn Potential Overreach and Call for Safeguards Aviation analysts caution that the new powers could be misused, citing the IndiGo pilot‑deployment controversy as an example where airline decisions were driven by revenue considerations rather than safety[1]. They recommend distinguishing ground‑level grievances from in‑flight disruptions to protect passenger rights. Safeguards such as transparent appeal mechanisms are suggested to prevent arbitrary bans.
Timeline
2023 – IATA reports that worldwide there is one unruly‑passenger incident per 480 flights, up from one per 568 flights in 2022, highlighting a growing safety concern for airlines [1].
Dec 28, 2025 – DGCA issues a safety circular warning that “insufficient preparedness could threaten aviation safety and inconvenience passengers,” and orders airlines to submit detailed implementation plans, conduct dry‑run trials and undergo six‑month monitoring before any new rule takes effect [2].
Feb 19, 2026 – DGCA drafts rule changes that would let airlines impose direct bans of up to 30 days on unruly passengers without referring cases to the independent committee, shifting enforcement authority from the regulator to carriers [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – The draft expands the definition of “unruly behaviour” to six new categories, including smoking on board, alcohol consumption on domestic flights, tampering with emergency exits, unauthorized use of life‑saving equipment, protest or sloganeering, and intoxication‑related conduct [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – Under the current system, airlines must report disruptive passengers to an independent panel headed by a retired district and sessions judge, which decides within 45 days whether to place the individual on the official no‑fly list [1].
Feb 19, 2026 – Aviation analysts caution that the new powers could be misused, citing the IndiGo pilot‑deployment controversy as an example of airline decisions driven by revenue, and call for safeguards to distinguish ground‑level grievances from in‑flight disruptions to protect passenger rights [1].