Govt Puts On Hold Rule Mandating 60% Free Airline Seats

New Delhi, April 2026 : The government has temporarily suspended its directive requiring airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight without additional charges, a move that was scheduled to come into effect from April 20.

In a communication to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Civil Aviation Ministry said the decision followed representations from industry stakeholders, including the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air. These stakeholders had raised concerns about the operational and commercial impact of the rule, particularly its effect on fare structures and its alignment with India’s deregulated aviation pricing system.

Taking these concerns into account, the government stated that the provision mandating 60 per cent free seat allocation would remain in abeyance until further review. Officials indicated that a comprehensive examination of the issue is underway before any final decision is made.

Currently, airlines are required to provide up to 20 per cent of seats free of charge, while passengers must pay for selecting the remaining seats. Seat selection fees typically range from Rs 200 to Rs 2,100, depending on factors such as seat location, including front-row preference and extra legroom.

The original directive, issued on March 18, was introduced in response to a surge in passenger complaints regarding high ancillary charges, particularly for seat selection. Alongside the proposal, the ministry had also instructed airlines to ensure that passengers travelling under the same booking reference (PNR) are seated together, preferably in adjacent seats.

The rollback comes at a time when India’s aviation sector continues to expand rapidly. The country has emerged as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, with Indian airports collectively handling more than five lakh passengers daily.

Despite putting the directive on hold, the Civil Aviation Ministry reiterated its commitment to improving passenger convenience, enhancing transparency in pricing, and maintaining high safety standards across the aviation sector.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)