Journey by Air under CCS(LTC) Rules, 1988 – FAQ, clarifications/ modifications in the LTC instructions: DoPT O.M.

FAQ (F) JOURNEY BY AIR issued vide DoP&T, GoI O.M. F.No.31011/07/2025 PP.A-IV dated 01.07.2025

S. No.	Questions	Answers
(F) JOURNEY BY AIR
46	What is the procedure for booking of air tickets of the employees who do not have any official accounts?	All the three ATAs have been directed to allow the registration of those employees who do not have official email accounts, provided their administrative office sends their details depicting their names, employee code no., private email lDs and mobile numbers, etc. to the travel agents for the purpose of booking the air tickets in respect of LTC journey. [O.M. No. 31011/11/2023-Estt.A-IV dated20.10.2023]
47	Authorized Travel Agencies (ATA) for booking tickets.	(i) ‘M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited’, BLCL (https://govemp.balmerlawrietravelapp.com), (ii) ‘M/s Ashok Travels & Tours’, ‘ATT’ (https://www.attitdc.in) and (iii) Indian Railways Catering and Tourism CorporationLtd., ‘IRCTC’ (https://www.air.irctc.co.in). [O.M. No. 31011/11/2023-Estt.A-IV dated20.10.2023] NB: While booking the air-tickets through ATAs, employees must ensure that ticket(s) is/are booked under the category of “LTC” only and not “Corporate”.
48	Is LTC-80 fare still applicable to Central Government employees?	No. LTC 80 was a scheme offered by Air India for booking Air Tickets when Central Government Officers avail LTC. As Air India is no longer a PSU of Government of India, LTC 80 scheme offered by erstwhile Air India is no more in existence. [O.M. No. 31011/12/2022-Estt. (A-IV), dated29.08.2022]
49	Whether Government employees have to pay cancellation charges levied by the airlines?	Yes, as per the respective airline policy. However, all the three authorized travel agents viz. M/s Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), M/s Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) and Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) do not have to change any cancellation charges for utilization of their services. [O.M. No. 31011/17/2023-Estt.A-IV dated10.08.2023
50	Whether Government employees can travel by Helicopter ?	No. [OM No. 31011/4/2007-Estt.A-IV dated14.05.2008]
51	Whether the Government employees have to book air tickets at the cheapest fare on the intended date of journey ?	The employees are required to book air tickets at the cheapest price or at the fare 10% higher than the cheapest price available in the intended slot of 3 hours each like 3 – 6 hrs, 6 – 9 hrs, …..). [O.M. No. 31011/12/2022-Estt. (A-IV), dated29.08.2022]
52	Is break-journey by air allowed ?	No. Break-journey refers to staying at the place other than the place of destination except for the purpose of taking the connecting flight or for halt/lay-over of the direct flight.
53	How can the reimbursement be made if the journey is performed in different class of entitlement ?	The reimbursement of claim will be settled as per the entitled class. However, if journey is performed by the higher-class reimbursement shall be restricted to entitled class. In case, the journey is performed by the lower-class, reimbursement shall be allowed as per actual.
54	Are cancellation charges allowed while booking air tickets through authorized travel agents?	Cancellation charges levied by the three authorized travel agents for utilization of their portals/platforms, if any, shall be reimbursed on the ground of official exigencies only. [O.M. No. 31011/17/2023-Estt.A-IV dated 10.08.2023]