Ministry of Civil Aviation Mandates Minimum 60% Free Seat Selection Across Airlines

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed all Indian airlines to allocate a minimum of 60 percent of seats on every flight for selection free of charge, in a move aimed at ensuring fair access for passengers. The directive was issued through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to strengthen passenger convenience, transparency, and uniformity of practices across carriers.

Under this directive, airlines will no longer be able to restrict free seat selection to a token number of seats while charging for the rest. At least three out of every five seats on a flight must now be available for passengers to choose without any additional fee.

The Ministry has also directed that passengers travelling on the same PNR must be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats, addressing a common concern among families and group travellers who were often split up under paid seat-selection systems.

According to the directive, airlines are further required to facilitate the carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments in a transparent and passenger-friendly manner, and to publish clear policies for the carriage of pets, reducing confusion and last-minute issues at check-in.

With this order now in effect, airlines are also required to strictly adhere to the passenger rights framework, particularly in cases of delays, cancellations, and denied boarding, and to prominently display passenger rights across their websites, mobile apps, booking platforms, and airport counters, including communication in regional languages for wider accessibility.

Avionyz will continue to follow this story and share updates as more details emerge.

For more news and interesting articles, like avionyz on Instagram, youtube and x.com