What happened
The Centre has amended the CAA procedure: interline/codeshare passengers now get their second boarding pass at the hub after immigration, while Air India hub-and-spoke keeps both passes at origin marked 'I'.
Why it matters
Interline and codeshare passengers transiting India now clear departure immigration at the hub before picking up their second boarding pass.
Remember this
One rule, two boarding-pass workflows: immigration first for interline, both passes at origin for hub-and-spoke.
What happens next
Interline and codeshare passengers transiting India now clear immigration at the hub before collecting the second boarding pass; Air India hub-and-spoke passengers continue to receive both passes at origin marked 'I'. Air India and Delhi airport have added counters and staff to run the split. The Ministry's show-cause reply from Air India was due 19 September.
More context & who is affected
The Centre has amended the CAA procedure governing boarding passes: interline and codeshare passengers now pick up their second pass at the hub, after clearing immigration, while Air India hub-and-spoke links keep both passes at origin, both marked 'I'. Baggage tagging stays the same.
The revision follows a 4 September 2026 gap at Delhi, when three travellers from an Air India Amritsar arrival were taken around departure controls and put on a Lufthansa flight to Munich just after midnight.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation sent Air India a nine-point notice dated 12 September with a reply due by 19 September. Extra counters and additional staff have since been added at Delhi's transfer points.
- Incident date
- 4 Sept 2026 Three passengers from an Air India Amritsar flight reached the Lufthansa Munich departure at Delhi at about 1:45 am without clearance at departure immigration.Hindustan Times
- Show-cause window
- 12-19 Sept 2026 Nine-ground show-cause issued to Air India on 12 September 2026; reply due 19 September 2026.India Today
- Boarding-pass rule
- I / I at origin (HS) vs post-immigration 2nd pass (interline) Hub-and-spoke keeps both passes at origin marked 'I'; interline and codeshare now pick up the second pass at the hub after immigration.Hindustan Times
Frequent Flyers · Air Travel Readers
Interline and codeshare passengers transiting India now clear departure immigration at the hub before collecting a second boarding pass.
Policy Watchers · Air Travel Readers
The 4 September 2026 Delhi bypass exposed a gap in the previous unified boarding-pass rule for connecting travellers.
Policy Watchers
Air India and Delhi airport have added counters and staff at boarding and transfer areas to operationalise the split.
Reporting fromHindustan Times ↗India Today ↗
Sources & verification2 sources · 4 claims
These are the records behind this briefing. Linked reporting is not the same as independent confirmation.
- Hindustan TimesReporting
Centre amends rules to differentiate connecting flights from Hub-and-Spoke ones ↗
Published Oct 12, 2026 · Accessed Oct 12, 2026 - India TodayReporting
Air India CEO summoned after 3 Italians skip immigration check at Delhi airport ↗
Published Sep 15, 2026 · Accessed Oct 12, 2026
Claims and linked sources
The revised CAA procedure issues the second boarding pass for interline and codeshare passengers at the connecting hub after immigration, instead of at the originating airport.
Air India hub-and-spoke passengers continue to receive both boarding passes at origin, both stamped 'I' for international rather than 'D' for domestic on the first leg.
On 4 September 2026 three travellers from an Air India Amritsar arrival were routed into Delhi's international transfer area and put on a Lufthansa flight to Munich after midnight without going through departure immigration.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued Air India a nine-ground show-cause notice dated 12 September 2026, with a reply deadline of 19 September; DIAL has denied receiving a separate notice.
