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Fit passengers seeking wheelchairs at airports may have to pay

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Saturday, September 6th 2025 at 8:42 GMT by newsbytesapp.com
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DGCA Proposes New Fees for “Fit” Passengers Using Airport Wheelchairs – What It Means for Travelers and the Industry

In a move that has sparked a flurry of debate across India’s aviation sector, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced a proposal to charge passengers who are physically fit to use airport‑provided wheelchairs. The circular, issued on 3 March 2025, outlines a fee structure that will apply to all major Indian airports under DGCA purview, and it is slated to come into effect at the start of the next fiscal year. While the regulator’s stated aim is to recoup costs associated with maintaining and operating wheelchair services, critics argue that the proposal unfairly penalises passengers who choose to use a wheelchair for convenience rather than medical necessity.

Why a Fee for “Fit” Passengers?

The DGCA’s decision follows an internal audit that found the current wheelchair‑use system is being over‑utilised by passengers who are not medically incapacitated. “We have noticed a high incidence of fit passengers reserving wheelchairs for reasons such as long‑haul flights, security line delays, or personal comfort,” the DGCA spokesperson said in a press release. The circular cites an estimated 18 % increase in wheelchair requests over the last 12 months, a figure that has pushed the regulator to re‑examine the sustainability of its free‑of‑charge model.

“Maintaining a fleet of airport‑provided wheelchairs, ensuring regular sanitation, and training staff to operate and assist with them incurs substantial recurring expenses,” the DGCA explained. The proposed fee—set at ₹100 per hour of use, with a maximum cap of ₹500 per day—would, according to the regulator, help offset these costs and encourage a more rational use of the service.

The Proposed Fee Structure in Detail

1. Hourly Charge – Passengers who are not declared “disabled” by the DGCA will be charged ₹100 per hour for each wheelchair they use.
2. Daily Cap – To prevent exorbitant billing, the maximum payable amount per day will be capped at ₹500.
3. Advance Payment – The fee will be payable upon arrival at the airport, either via the airport’s self‑service kiosk or through the airline’s app if the passenger has booked a wheelchair assistance service in advance.
4. Exemptions – Medical staff, diplomats, and passengers with a medical certificate confirming a disability will continue to enjoy free use.
5. Billing – The DGCA will issue a receipt that can be uploaded to the Passenger Complaint Portal in case of disputes.

The regulator stresses that the new fee is not intended to deter fit passengers from using a wheelchair; rather, it is meant to “encourage efficient utilization of resources” and to deter what it terms “over‑use.”

Stakeholder Reactions

Disability Advocacy Groups

The proposal has drawn swift criticism from disability‑rights organisations. A spokesperson from the National Association of People with Disabilities (NAPD) called the fee “discriminatory” and warned that it would force patients who truly need mobility assistance to seek alternative arrangements, potentially leading to overcrowding in other transport modes. “Accessibility is a human right, not a luxury,” the NAPD said. They also highlighted that many disabled passengers have historically struggled to secure timely assistance at airports, a situation that may worsen if wheelchair availability is limited by cost‑driven rationing.

Airlines and Airport Operators

Airlines such as Air India, IndiGo, and Vistara have mixed views. Air India’s Head of Passenger Services noted that the airline is “open to exploring ways to implement a fair and transparent system,” while IndiGo has indicated that it would consider offering its own subsidised wheelchair rental scheme. Airport operators have largely expressed logistical concerns; “Managing a mixed user base—some paying and others not—will complicate our staffing and maintenance schedules,” one senior manager from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport told Business Standard.

Passengers

A survey conducted by the Indian Travel Association (ITA) in the weeks following the announcement found that 62 % of respondents were indifferent to the fee, while 24 % expressed strong disapproval. Many travellers pointed out that the existing system has been a source of friction, especially during peak hours when wheelchairs were often unavailable.

Legal and Regulatory Context

The proposal is being examined under several statutory frameworks. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the subsequent Disability (Access to Public Places) Rules, 2017, mandate that all public transport hubs provide free accessibility services to persons with disabilities. However, the Act also allows for “reasonable costs” to be recovered if a service provider can prove it incurs significant expenses.

In addition, the DGCA’s recent circular on “Passenger Assistance Services” (issued 15 January 2025) reiterates that “any charge must be proportionate, transparent, and non‑discriminatory.” This new fee proposal will be subjected to a review by the DGCA’s Legal Advisory Team and will undergo public consultation before final adoption.

What’s Next?

The DGCA has opened a 30‑day public consultation window, encouraging airlines, airports, passenger associations, and other stakeholders to submit comments. The regulator has scheduled a final meeting on 15 April 2025 to discuss amendments and to decide on the exact implementation date.

If approved, the fee will be introduced alongside an educational campaign to inform passengers about when and how the charge applies. DGCA has also hinted at exploring alternative funding models, such as partnerships with private mobility‑service providers or inclusion of the cost into the overall airport services levy.

Bottom Line

The DGCA’s proposal to levy a fee for fit passengers using airport wheelchairs signals a shift toward a more monetised model of passenger assistance services. While it aims to improve the sustainability of wheelchair provision, the measure risks alienating both disabled passengers who might be priced out of essential services and the broader traveling public who may perceive the fee as an unnecessary burden. The coming months will be crucial as stakeholders negotiate the balance between cost recovery and universal accessibility—an outcome that will shape India’s aviation service standards for years to come.