DGCA makes seat allocation in airlines mandatory

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) circular that make it mandatory for airlines to allocate seat numbers to passengers. The move will affect the business practice of a few low cost carriers, such as Air Deccan, that did not allot seat numbers to passengers but gave them out on a first-come-first-served basis.

According to the CAR, the boarding passes should indicate the row and seat numbers and also that aged and infirm passengers should be loaded on to the aircraft before others and disembarked at the end.

It also said that personnel responsible for seat allocation must ensure that the weight and balance of the aircraft and its centre of gravity were "well within the limits for all phases of the flight, irrespective of the number of passengers".

A civil aviation ministry spokesperson said the move would not only allow a quick head-count of passengers for tallying with the manifest entries, but also assist follow-up action during investigation of any mishap.