LTC Air Travel Special Dispensation Scheme Extended Till 2028: Rules, Eligibility & Booking Guide
DoPT extends air travel relaxation for NER, J&K, Ladakh and Andaman & Nicobar under CCS (LTC) Rules, 1988 — valid September 26, 2026 to September 25, 2028.
Central government employees planning their Leave Travel Concession (LTC) can continue flying to select destination regions. The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) has extended the LTC Special Dispensation Scheme for two more years, giving eligible officials — including those not normally entitled to air travel — continued access to air connectivity for the North East Region, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Key Highlights
- Order Reference: DoPT OM F.No. 31011/15/2022-Estt-A-IV dated September 9, 2026
- Validity Period: September 26, 2026 to September 25, 2028
- Eligible Sectors: North Eastern Region (NER), UT of J&K, UT of Ladakh, UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Conversion Option: Conversion of 1 Home Town LTC in a 4-year block
- Airline Choice: Any airline permitted, subject to DoPT fare and agency guidelines
Eligibility & Conversion Rules
General Conversion
Eligible employees can convert one Home Town LTC in a 4-year block to travel to NER, J&K, Ladakh, or Andaman & Nicobar. This applies whether taken against "Anywhere in India" LTC or in lieu of Home Town LTC.
Same Station Restriction
Employees whose Home Town and Headquarters/place of posting are the same cannot avail this conversion, since they are not eligible for Home Town LTC in the first place.
Employees From the Scheme Regions
If an employee's Home Town falls within NER, A&N, J&K, or Ladakh, they may convert their Home Town LTC to visit any of the other three regions — but not their own native region.
Fresh Recruits
- Permitted to convert one out of three Home Town LTCs in a 4-year block to visit any of the four designated regions
- Granted one additional Home Town LTC conversion specifically for UT of J&K or UT of Ladakh, within the same 4-year block
Air Travel Entitlements: Entitled vs. Non-Entitled Staff
| Category | Permitted Departure Point | Allowed Travel Class & Flight Segments |
|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Entitled Staff | Headquarters / Place of Posting | Entitled class, any airline, direct to destination |
| Non-Entitled Staff (Connecting Route) | Specific Hub Cities (Railheads) | Economy class, any airline, on feeder sectors: • NER: Kolkata/Guwahati ↔ NER • Port Blair: Kolkata/Chennai/Visakhapatnam ↔ Port Blair • J&K/Ladakh: Delhi/Amritsar ↔ J&K/Ladakh (HQ-to-hub travel must be by entitled rail/bus class) |
| Non-Entitled Staff (Direct Flight Route) | Headquarters / Place of Posting | Economy class direct to destination; reimbursement capped at connecting-hub fare (whichever is less) |
Mandatory Air Ticket Booking Guidelines
Booking is strictly regulated under OM No. 31011/12/2022-Estt.A-IV and OM No. 31011/11/2023-Pers. Policy A-IV.
1. Authorized Travel Agents (ATAs) Only
Tickets must be booked exclusively through one of these three authorized agencies:
- Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL) — govemp.balmerlawrietravelapp.com
- Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT) — attitdc.in
- IRCTC — air.irctc.co.in
Employees should register using their official government email ID. Those without an official ID can register a private email after verification by their administrative office.
2. Fare Selection & Time Slot Optimization
- Bookings must target the cheapest flight (Best Available Fare) within a desired 3-hour band, or an optimized 10% price band above the cheapest fare; non-stop flights should be preferred
- ATA portals automatically filter flights within the 10% band and print "LTC" on issued tickets as system-generated proof of compliance
- Non-entitled staff taking a direct flight must retain a printout of hub-city fares (e.g., Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai) for the same time slot to calculate reimbursement ceilings
3. Booking Deadlines & Cancellation
- Book at least 21 days in advance where possible
- Cancellations within 24 hours of travel require a self-declared justification
- ATAs do not levy agency/convenience fees
- No frequent-flyer mileage points may be accrued on government-funded tickets
Advances & Reimbursement Settlement
- Advance Claims: Eligible staff may apply for LTC advance up to 30 days before departure, with an ATA fare printout. Non-entitled travelers on the special route can claim advance covering both the rail/bus fare to the hub and the domestic air leg.
- Fare Adjustments: Any variation between the advance sanction and the actual ticket fare is adjusted at final LTC claim settlement.
- Anti-Misuse Checks: Ministries/Departments conduct random post-travel verification with airlines to cross-check the submitted fare against the actual fare paid; fraudulent claims attract disciplinary action under service conduct rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the validity period of the extended LTC Air Travel Special Dispensation Scheme?
The scheme is valid for two years, from September 26, 2026 to September 25, 2028, as per DoPT OM F.No. 31011/15/2022-Estt-A-IV dated September 9, 2026.
Which regions are covered under this scheme?
The North Eastern Region (NER), UT of Jammu & Kashmir, UT of Ladakh, and UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands are covered under the scheme.
Can an employee whose Home Town is in NER use this scheme to visit their own hometown?
No. Employees whose Home Town falls within NER, A&N, J&K, or Ladakh can convert their Home Town LTC to visit any of the other three regions, but not their own native region.
Are fresh recruits eligible for this scheme?
Yes. Fresh recruits can convert one of three Home Town LTCs in a 4-year block to visit any of the four regions, plus one additional conversion specifically for J&K or Ladakh in the same block.
Which travel agents are authorized for LTC air ticket booking?
Only three agencies are authorized: Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited (BLCL), Ashok Travels & Tours (ATT), and IRCTC.
Can employees earn frequent-flyer miles on LTC-funded tickets?
No. Frequent-flyer mileage points cannot be accrued on tickets booked using government-funded LTC.
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