Airlines in India will start offering at least 60% of seats on every flight without any extra fee from April 20, as per a directive from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The aviation regulator has also asked airlines to follow a clear and open seat allocation policy.
This move comes after the civil aviation ministry instructed airlines to ensure that at least 60% of seats on each flight are offered free of charge to ensure fair access for passengers.
The DGCA has issued a revised Air Transport Circular, which will come into force from April 20. The regulator has said that airlines must ensure 'at least 60% of the seats in any flight shall be offered free of charge'.
Airlines are also required to maintain transparent seat allocation policies and clearly communicate the availability of free seats and applicable conditions on their booking interfaces.
Additionally, the regulator has said that passengers booked under the same PNR should, as far as possible, be seated together.
The move comes at a time when concerns are growing over airlines charging high fees for different services, including seat selection.
