New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has temporarily suspended its directive that required airlines to offer at least 60% of seats on flights without any selection charges, just weeks before the rule was set to take effect.
In a notification issued on Thursday, the ministry stated that the decision followed concerns raised by the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air. The stakeholders flagged several operational and financial challenges, including the potential disruption to fare structures and conflicts with India’s deregulated pricing system for air travel.
The rule, originally scheduled for implementation from April 20, has now been put on hold until further review.
Before this proposed change, airlines typically allowed around 20% of seats to be selected free of cost, while passengers had to pay for choosing the remaining seats. These charges generally ranged between ₹200 and ₹2,100, depending on factors such as seat location and legroom.
Airlines had strongly opposed the increase to 60%, warning that such a move would likely lead to higher ticket prices as carriers attempt to offset the loss in ancillary revenue.
The situation has been further complicated by rising operational costs, particularly due to increased aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices amid geopolitical tensions involving Iran.
Despite pausing the free seat mandate, the ministry confirmed that other passenger-friendly measures introduced earlier will remain in force. These include improved transparency in seat allocation, ensuring passengers on the same PNR are seated together where possible, and clearer policies regarding the transport of musical instruments, sports equipment, and pets, along with upfront disclosure of all related charges.
