The government has decided to postpone its previous instruction that required airlines to make available at least 60 percent of seats on a flight without any extra charge, as per official sources. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) had initially directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on March 18 to ensure airlines to allocate a minimum of 60 percent of seats for free selection starting April 20, with the aim of providing fair access for passengers.
However, due to the recent surge in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and the escalating operational expenses for airlines, the ministry has opted to reassess the situation after receiving representations from the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) and Akasa Air. The MoCA, in its communication to the DGCA, mentioned that the review was prompted by concerns raised by the FIA and Akasa Air regarding the operational and commercial implications of the directive, including its potential effects on fare structures and alignment with the current deregulated tariff system.
Consequently, pending a thorough examination of the issue, the ministry has decided to suspend the requirement to offer at least 60 percent of seats free of charge until further notice. The FIA, representing major carriers like IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, along with Akasa Air, had requested the DGCA to retract the directive citing apprehensions about its impact on operations and finances.
Currently, airlines typically allow approximately 20 percent of seats to be selected without charge, while passengers are charged for the remaining seats. Seat selection fees usually vary from Rs 200 to Rs 2,100, depending on factors such as seat location, including front rows and extra legroom. The earlier proposal to raise the free seat allocation to 60 percent was initiated in response to growing passenger discontent over high ancillary charges imposed by airlines for services like seat selection.