In a major relief for air travellers, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airlines to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight are offered without any additional charge. The move is aimed at enhancing passenger convenience, ensuring fair access during bookings, and promoting greater transparency across the aviation sector.
60% Seats to Be Free of Selection Charges
According to an official directive, airlines must now provide a minimum of 60% seats free of cost during booking or check-in. This marks a significant shift from earlier practices, where only a limited number of seats were complimentary and passengers often had to pay extra to select preferred seats.
The new rule is expected to:
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Reduce hidden costs in ticket pricing
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Improve fair seat allocation
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Enhance overall customer experience
Families and Groups to Be Seated Together
To further improve passenger comfort, airlines have been instructed to seat passengers together if booked under the same Passenger Name Record (PNR). In such cases, airlines should make efforts to allocate adjacent seats, particularly benefiting families and group travellers.
Clear Policies for Special Baggage and Pets
The ministry has also asked airlines to adopt clear, transparent, and passenger-friendly policies for:
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Carrying sports equipment
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Transporting musical instruments
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Travelling with pets, subject to safety and operational guidelines
This step aims to remove ambiguity and ensure uniform practices across airlines.
Strict Compliance with Passenger Rights
Airlines have been directed to strictly follow passenger rights regulations, especially in situations such as:
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Flight delays
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Cancellations
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Denied boarding
They must also clearly display passenger rights and entitlements on:
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Official websites
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Mobile applications
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Booking platforms
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Airport counters
Importantly, this information must also be made available in regional languages to ensure accessibility for all passengers.
Push for Transparency in Aviation Sector
The latest directive reflects the government’s broader push to make air travel more transparent, affordable, and passenger-centric. By standardising seat allocation policies and improving disclosure norms, the move is expected to bring greater accountability in airline operations.
