SC flags accessibility gaps in aviation infrastructure

Why in news?

SC sought responses from the Centre and aviation bodies on a plea alleging systemic accessibility failures for disabled air passengers.

UPSC Relevance – 

 GS2 – Welfare schemes and laws for vulnerable sections (persons with disabilities)

GS3 – Infrastructure (airports) 

Status of India’s Aviation Sector

• Market size: India is the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market after the US and China. Annual passenger traffic has crossed 350 million, and domestic traffic has grown at about 10-12% a year over the last decade.
• Airports: The number of operational airports (including heliports and water aerodromes) has more than doubled, from 74 in 2014 to over 160 now. The target is around 350-400 airports by 2047.
• However, realising these goals require overcoming multiple challenges of accessibility, infrastructure and regulation.

Accessibility in Aviation – The Ignored challege

The petition, filed by a lawyer with a visual disability, calls the situation a ‘systemic failure’ across all stages of air travel. Using the Census 2011 disability figure of 2.21%, it estimates over 7 million disabled air passengers every year.

• Problems flagged:

• Visually impaired passengers forced into wheelchairs or ambulifts even when they can use stairs.
• ‘Silent airports’ with no audio announcements, visual alerts or WhatsApp updates.
• Airline apps and websites not compatible with screen readers; no option to declare assistance needs while booking.
• In-flight systems without accessibility settings; no dedicated grievance channel for disabled travellers.
• Legal framework:

• Article 21 (right to live with dignity) and Article 14 (equality); right to travel is part of personal liberty.
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: recognises 21 disabilities; Sections 40-46 mandate accessible transport, buildings and ICT within set timelines.
• DGCA’s Civil Aviation Requirement on carriage of persons with disabilities (revised in 2022 after a child with a disability was denied boarding at Ranchi airport).
• Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, 2015) included airports as a key target.
• Rajive Raturi v. Union of India (2024): SC held that accessibility rules must lay down mandatory, enforceable standards, not just guidelines, and directed the Centre to frame them.

Overall Challenges in the Aviation Sector

• Congested airports: Delhi and Mumbai are near saturation, leading to slot shortages, long queues and delays. Infrastructure has not kept pace with traffic.
• Safety and regulatory capacity: The Air India Boeing 787 crash at Ahmedabad (June 2025) brought safety oversight into focus. DGCA faces large staff shortages, and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security is similarly stretched.
• Operational fragility: In December 2025, IndiGo cancelled thousands of flights after new pilot duty-time rules came into force, showing poor planning and the risk of a market dominated by one airline.
• High costs: Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) makes up about 30-40% of airline costs. It is outside GST and attracts high state VAT, which pushes up fares.
• Weak airline finances: Several airlines have collapsed (Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Go First). Low fares, high costs and a weak rupee keep margins thin.
• Supply chain and skills: Engine problems (such as Pratt & Whitney engines) grounded many aircraft; there are shortages of pilots, engineers and air traffic controllers.
• MRO dependence: A large share of maintenance work is still done abroad in places like Singapore and the Gulf, causing foreign exchange outflow.
• Regional connectivity: Many UDAN routes shut down after the subsidy period ended. Several small airports built under the scheme see few or no flights.
• Accessibility and inclusion: As the plea shows, infrastructure is built for the average passenger; disability access is often an afterthought.
• Privacy concerns: Digi Yatra collects biometric data, and its interaction with the DPDP Act, 2023 needs clarity.
• Environment: Aviation emissions are rising; meeting ICAO’s CORSIA obligations and producing SAF at scale will be costly.

Key Policies and Initiatives

• National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016: Aims to make flying affordable and expand regional connectivity, MRO and cargo.
• UDAN (2016): Regional Connectivity Scheme with viability gap funding and capped fares. Budget 2025-26 announced a modified UDAN to add 120 new destinations over 10 years.
• Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024: Replaced the Aircraft Act, 1934 to modernise aviation law and simplify licensing.
• Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Act, 2025: Gives effect to the Cape Town Convention, which helps lessors repossess aircraft and lowers leasing costs for Indian airlines.
• Digi Yatra (2022): Facial recognition-based paperless entry at airports, run by the Digi Yatra Foundation, a non-profit with AAI and airport operators as shareholders.
• MRO push: GST on MRO services cut to 5% and 100% FDI allowed under the automatic route.

Committee Recommendations

• Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture (2025, review of aviation safety):

• Fill the large vacancies in DGCA and other safety bodies on priority.
• Make DGCA an independent, financially autonomous regulator, similar to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority.
• Strengthen surveillance, audits and real-time safety monitoring of airlines and airports.

• Standing Committee observations on airfares: Called for a mechanism to check sudden fare surges during festivals and emergencies, and greater transparency in fare-setting.
• RPwD and Rajive Raturi (2024) directions: Frame mandatory accessibility standards, consult persons with disabilities and disability rights groups, and fix timelines for compliance.
• ICAO audit: ICAO’s 2022 safety audit rated India’s effective implementation at about 85%, up from about 70% in 2018. ICAO recommends continued investment in regulatory staff and training to sustain this.

Way Forward

• Plan capacity ahead of demand: Build second airports for big cities in time and modernise air traffic management (e.g. GAGAN-based navigation).
• Strong and independent regulator: Give DGCA autonomy, staff and funds, and separate safety regulation from the ministry’s policy role.
• Bring ATF under GST: Or at least rationalise state VAT to lower operating costs and fares.
• Healthy competition: Ease entry for new airlines and use the Competition Commission to check abuse of dominance.
• Make UDAN sustainable: Link support to demand studies, tourism and cargo, rather than building airports with no traffic.
• Build MRO and skills: Develop MRO hubs, expand flying schools and training for engineers and air traffic controllers.
• Accessibility by design: Mandatory standards for airports, apps, websites and in-flight systems; audio-visual announcements; trained staff; a dedicated grievance system with time-bound redressal; and accessibility audits of airports and airlines.
• Green aviation: Support SAF production from agricultural residue and promote electric ground operations at airports.

Practice MCQ  

Q1. With reference to India’s civil aviation sector, consider the following statements:

1. The Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024 replaced the Aircraft Act, 1934.
2. Digi Yatra enables paperless entry at airports using facial recognition technology.
3. Aviation Turbine Fuel is currently taxed under the Goods and Services Tax.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one     (b) Only two     (c) All three     (d) None

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Statement 3 is incorrect. ATF is one of the petroleum products kept outside GST; it attracts central excise duty and state VAT.

Mains Practice Question 

Q. “India’s aviation sector has grown faster than its infrastructure and regulatory capacity.” Critically examine this statement and suggest measures to make the sector safe, competitive and inclusive, including for persons with disabilities. (15 marks, 250 words)