‘Relief for airlines, setback for flyers’
NEW DELHI: The Centre has put on hold its recent directive that required airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight without extra charge. The rule was due to take effect from April 20.
The move comes after airlines raised concerns about how the rule would affect ticket pricing and operations. The Civil Aviation Ministry said it reviewed the matter following feedback from the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air.
In a communication to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the ministry said the proposal needed a closer look. Airlines had flagged that the rule could disrupt current fare structures and may not align with India’s deregulated pricing system.
Given these concerns, the government has decided to keep the provision on hold until a detailed review is completed.
At present, airlines allow around 20 per cent of seats to be selected without any additional fee. For the remaining seats, passengers are charged depending on the type of seat, with prices ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 2,100. Seats with extra legroom or those in the front rows usually cost more.
The earlier directive, announced on March 18, was meant to address growing complaints from passengers about high seat selection charges and other add-on fees.
Along with the free seat proposal, the ministry had also asked airlines to ensure that passengers booked under the same PNR are seated together, preferably in adjacent seats.
The latest decision comes at a time when India’s aviation sector is expanding rapidly. The country is now the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world, with more than five lakh passengers travelling daily through Indian airports.
The ministry said it continues to focus on making air travel more passenger-friendly while maintaining transparency and safety standards across the sector.
Agencies