How to Request Wheelchair Assistance at Indian Airports in 2026: Pre-Booking, Your Free-of-Charge DGCA Rights, and Where to Meet the Assistant
By Ishaani Reddy (Ishaani Reddy writes about accessible and senior-friendly air travel in India, focusing on passenger rights and on-ground assistance.) · Published · 11 min read
Wheelchair assistance at Indian airports is a free, DGCA-mandated service that any passenger with reduced mobility can claim, but only if it is requested correctly and on time. This 2026 playbook walks through pre-booking, the meeting points at major airports, and the rights that changed after the 2024 de-boarding controversy.
Wheelchair assistance is free and a legal right, not a favour
Under the DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) on the carriage of persons with disability and reduced mobility, every scheduled airline operating in India must provide wheelchair assistance free of charge to any passenger who needs it. This is not a paid add-on, and an airline cannot demand a medical certificate simply to give you a wheelchair to and from the aircraft. The right covers anyone with a permanent disability, a temporary injury (a fractured leg, post-surgery recovery), or age-related difficulty walking long airport distances.
The assistance is meant to be end-to-end: from the kerb or check-in counter, through security, to the boarding gate, and onto the aircraft via a ramp or ambulift where steps are involved. At the destination it works in reverse, ending at the kerbside or the arrivals hall where your companion is waiting. Airports in India are large; the walk from check-in to a remote gate at Delhi or Mumbai can exceed a kilometre, so even passengers who can walk short distances often need this help.
Crucially, the airline cannot refuse to carry you solely because you need a wheelchair, and it cannot insist you travel with an attendant unless your condition genuinely requires in-flight medical care that cabin crew cannot provide. Knowing this distinction prevents a lot of last-minute pressure at the counter.
How to pre-book wheelchair assistance when you book the flight
The single most important step is to request the wheelchair at the time of booking, or at least 48 hours before departure. Every Indian carrier uses standard IATA service codes for this, and you can ask for the right one depending on how much help you need:
- WCHR (wheelchair for ramp): you can walk up and down stairs and to your seat, but cannot walk long distances in the terminal.
- WCHS (wheelchair for steps): you can walk to your seat but cannot manage stairs.
- WCHC (wheelchair cabin/complete): you are immobile and need to be carried to the seat; this requires the most planning.
You can add the request through the airline's website during booking (look for 'special assistance' or 'add services'), through the mobile app, or by calling the airline's call centre with your PNR. If you booked through a travel platform such as FlightGPT or another agent, you can still call the airline directly with your booking reference to add the assistance code. Always get an email or SMS confirmation that the SSR (special service request) has been added to your PNR.
If you forget to pre-book, do not panic. Airports and airlines must still provide assistance to passengers who request it at the airport, but you may face a wait while a wheelchair and porter are arranged, and at peak hours that wait can be long. Pre-booking simply guarantees the resource is reserved for you.
Where to meet your assistant at Delhi (IGI) and Mumbai (BOM)
At Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), wheelchair assistance is arranged terminal-side. For domestic departures from Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, and for international departures from Terminal 3, the simplest approach is to be dropped at the departures kerb and tell the airline's ground staff at the entrance or check-in row that you have a pre-booked wheelchair under your PNR. Dedicated assistance desks and clearly marked wheelchair-priority lanes are positioned near the check-in islands of each airline. If you arrive by Delhi Metro Airport Express into T3, staff at the airport-end can direct you to assistance.
At Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), Terminal 1 handles most domestic low-cost flights and Terminal 2 handles full-service domestic and all international flights. As at Delhi, head to your airline's check-in area and identify yourself to the ground staff; the wheelchair is dispatched from there. Both airports have ambulifts for passengers who cannot climb the aircraft stairs at remote bays.
A practical tip: the wheelchair is provided by the airline's ground handler, not by the airport's information desk, so always quote your airline and PNR rather than asking a generic help counter. Reach the airport with extra buffer time (at least 3 hours for international, 2 hours for domestic) because the assistant may be helping another passenger when you arrive.
What changed after the 2024 de-boarding controversy
In 2024, a series of incidents where passengers with reduced mobility were left waiting, or in one widely reported case a flyer was asked to de-board, pushed the DGCA to tighten enforcement of its accessibility rules. The regulator reiterated that an airline cannot deny boarding to a person solely on the basis of disability, and that any decision to refuse carriage on medical grounds must be properly documented and, where required, supported by a medical opinion rather than a gate agent's judgement.
The strengthened framework reinforces that carriers must train ground and cabin staff to handle reduced-mobility passengers with dignity, must not separate a passenger from a needed mobility aid without providing an immediate alternative, and must have a clear internal escalation path when a dispute arises at the gate. The practical upshot for travellers in 2026 is that you are on firmer ground if you assert your right to be carried and to receive assistance.
If you believe your rights were violated, you can file a complaint with the airline first and escalate to the DGCA through the AirSewa grievance portal, which is the government's official channel for civil-aviation complaints. Keep your boarding pass, PNR, and any names or photographs as evidence, as documented complaints get traction.
Bringing your own wheelchair or mobility device
You are entitled to bring your own wheelchair, and a manual or battery-powered mobility aid travels free of charge in addition to your normal baggage allowance. A manual folding wheelchair can usually be taken to the aircraft door and then stowed in the hold, with the airline's chair used inside the cabin. Declare it at booking so the ground team knows to expect it and can tag it for delivery at the aircraft door on arrival where possible.
Battery-powered wheelchairs need extra notice because of the type of battery. Spillable (wet) lead-acid batteries, non-spillable (gel/AGM) batteries, and lithium-ion batteries each have different handling rules under dangerous-goods regulations. Lithium-ion driven devices are usually accepted but the battery may need to be removed and carried into the cabin, with watt-hour limits applying. Always tell the airline the battery type at least 48 hours ahead so they can confirm it can be carried on your specific aircraft.
Label your device with your name and contact details, photograph it before handover to record its condition, and remove or secure loose parts such as cushions, footrests, and joysticks. If your wheelchair is damaged in transit, report it immediately at the arrivals baggage desk before leaving the airport so the claim is registered.
Travelling with a companion, a guide dog, or a hidden disability
If you need a wheelchair you do not automatically need to buy a ticket for an attendant. An airline can only require a travelling companion in limited situations, for example where a passenger cannot fasten their own seatbelt, cannot understand safety instructions, or needs help with medical needs that crew cannot provide. For most reduced-mobility passengers, ground and cabin staff are responsible for assistance and a paid escort is not mandatory.
Passengers travelling with a trained service or guide dog are permitted to keep the animal with them in the cabin on Indian carriers, subject to advance notice and the airline's documentation requirements regarding the dog's training and health. Give the airline several days' notice so seating and any paperwork can be arranged.
Not every disability is visible. Conditions such as autism, dementia, chronic pain, or a recent cardiac event may not show but still warrant assistance and patience at security and boarding. The DGCA framework recognises hidden disabilities, and you can request a quieter screening, extra time, or wheelchair support even if you appear able to walk. You do not have to disclose a diagnosis to claim help; stating that you have a condition affecting mobility or needing assistance is enough.
A timed checklist for the day of travel
Use this sequence to make the journey smooth. One to two days before: confirm the SSR wheelchair code is on your PNR by calling the airline; re-confirm the battery type if you carry a powered device; and arrange who will drop you and who will receive you at the other end. On departure day: reach the airport early (3 hours international, 2 hours domestic), go to the departures kerb or your airline's check-in row, and identify yourself by name and PNR to ground staff.
At security and boarding, you will usually be taken through a priority lane and boarded ahead of general passengers so you can settle in without a queue behind you. If you use the aircraft's onboard wheelchair, the crew will help you to your seat. Tell the crew if you will need help reaching the lavatory during the flight so they are prepared.
On arrival, stay seated until the cabin clears unless told otherwise; the airport wheelchair and assistant are arranged to meet you at the aircraft door or jet bridge, and will take you through immigration (for international arrivals), to baggage claim, and out to the arrivals hall where your companion waits. If no assistant appears within a reasonable time, press the call button or ask the crew to escalate rather than attempting to walk unaided.
Frequently asked questions
Is wheelchair assistance free at Indian airports?
Yes. Under DGCA rules, all scheduled airlines in India must provide wheelchair assistance to and from the aircraft free of charge for any passenger with reduced mobility, whether the cause is disability, injury, or age. You cannot be charged for the wheelchair or porter.
How do I request wheelchair assistance for a flight in India?
Request it when you book or at least 48 hours before departure, via the airline's website, app, or call centre using your PNR. Ask for the correct code: WCHR (cannot walk long distances), WCHS (cannot manage stairs), or WCHC (immobile, needs carrying). Get a confirmation that the SSR is added to your booking.
Do I need a medical certificate to get a wheelchair at the airport?
No. An airline cannot demand a medical certificate just to provide a wheelchair to and from the aircraft. A medical opinion is only relevant if the airline questions your fitness to fly on health grounds, which must be properly documented rather than decided at the gate.
Can an airline refuse to board a passenger because they use a wheelchair?
No. The DGCA prohibits denying boarding solely on the basis of disability. Carriage can only be refused on documented medical-safety grounds, and after the 2024 de-boarding incidents the regulator reinforced that such decisions must be justified and escalated properly, not made by a single gate agent.
Can I bring my own electric wheelchair on an Indian flight?
Yes, free of charge in addition to your baggage. Powered wheelchairs need 48 hours' notice so the airline can verify the battery type; lithium-ion batteries often must be removed and carried in the cabin within watt-hour limits. Photograph the device before handover and report any damage at arrivals immediately.
Do I have to pay for a companion if I need wheelchair help?
Usually no. An attendant is only required if you cannot fasten your seatbelt, understand safety instructions, or manage essential medical needs in flight. For most reduced-mobility passengers, airline ground and cabin staff provide the assistance and no paid escort is needed.