Govt reinstates 60% free seat selection rule for airlines

In a new directive, the government has directed airlines to offer free seat selection for at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight, ensuring fair access for passengers.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued the directions through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to enhance passenger convenience and bring greater transparency and uniformity to seat-selection practices across airlines.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation issued the directions through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to enhance passenger convenience and bring greater transparency and uniformity to seat-selection practices across airlines.

The Ministry directed airlines to ensure that passengers travelling under the same PNR are seated together, preferably in adjacent seats. It also said the carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments should be facilitated in a transparent and passenger-friendly manner. Airlines have also been instructed to formulate clear and transparent policies for the carriage of pets.

Meanwhile, the government has instructed airlines to strictly adhere to the passenger rights framework, particularly in cases of delays, cancellations and denied boarding. The Ministry also called for passenger rights to be prominently displayed across airline websites, mobile applications, booking platforms and airport counters. Airlines have also been instructed to clearly communicate passenger entitlements in regional languages to improve accessibility and awareness.

Govt had earlier kept 60% free-seat rule in abeyance

Notably, the new directive comes after the government earlier suspended its directive requiring airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight free of additional charge. The directive was initially scheduled to come into effect on April 20 this year.

The Civil Aviation Ministry had earlier informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that the matter had been reviewed following representations from the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air. The airlines had flagged operational and commercial implications of the provision, including its potential impact on fare structures and its consistency with the prevailing deregulated tariff regime.

The government said that, pending a comprehensive review of the issue, the provision requiring airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats free of charge would remain suspended until further orders.