Passengers flying within India will be able to choose a larger share of seats without paying extra from April 20, after aviation regulator DGCA directed airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight free of charge.The move follows concerns over airlines charging steep fees for seat selection, with the civil aviation ministry announcing on March 18 that it had asked the regulator to ensure fairer access for passengers.

New rule raises free seat quota from 20% to 60%

Acting on the ministry’s direction, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an amended Air Transport Circular on March 20, which will come into force 30 days later, effectively from April 20.Under the revised rules, airlines must ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on any flight are available for selection without any additional charge. At present, only around 20 per cent of seats are generally offered free, while the rest attract a fee.The DGCA has also told airlines to keep their seat allocation policies transparent and clearly show the availability of free seats, along with any applicable conditions, on their booking platforms.“Airlines should maintain transparent seat allocation policies and clearly communicate the availability of free seats and applicable conditions on their booking interfaces,” the regulator said in the revised circular dated March 20.

Families on same booking should be seated together where possible

The regulator has further said that passengers travelling on the same PNR (Passenger Name Record) should, as far as practicable, be seated close to one another, which would ordinarily mean adjacent seats in the same row.An official cited by news agency PTI said that airlines are now preparing to implement the new directive.Seat selection charges currently range from Rs 200 to Rs 2,100, depending on factors such as front-row placement and extra legroom.

Airlines object, warn of possible fare hikes

The new rule comes against the backdrop of growing criticism over airlines levying hefty charges for add-on services, especially seat selection.However, the move has faced strong resistance from carriers. As per PTI, IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet objected to the decision last week, arguing that forcing airlines to make at least 60 per cent of seats free would hurt revenues and could eventually push up airfares.In a letter sent to the civil aviation ministry on March 20, the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents the three carriers, urged the government to withdraw the decision.

Other optional service charges must also be clearly shown

Apart from seat selection, the DGCA has also directed airlines to display all charges for optional services such as carrying sports equipment or musical instruments in a clear and unambiguous manner on websites and booking portals.The regulator said airlines must also disclose any liability conditions in case of damage linked to such items.The change comes at a time when Indian airports are handling more than five lakh passengers daily, underlining the wide impact the new rule could have across the country’s fast-growing aviation market.DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai recently said the regulator is trying to simplify rules for airlines while also protecting passenger rights. Speaking at the Indian Chamber of Commerce Aviation and Tourism Summit, he said the aim is to strike a balance between supporting airline growth and safeguarding travellers.“India’s aviation market is one of the fastest-growing in the world, but airlines are currently dealing with several operational hurdles,” Kidwai said, as quoted by news agency IANS.

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