Big Relief for Air Travellers: Govt Mandates 60% Airline Seat Free

Indian travellers can now experience major relief, as the government has issued directions to all airlines, requiring at least 60% of seats on all flights to be available at regular prices to ensure fair access.  The Ministry of Civil Aviation said this via a press release.

As per the official release, the government has also emphasised additional directives for airlines to enhance the passenger travelling experience, improve clarity, and ensure uniformity of practices.

Airline 60% Seat Rule

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has recently issued instructions to all airlines to ensure that 60% of seats on all flights are available to passengers at no charge.

According to the press release, this step has been taken to ensure fair access for the passengers.

Until now, only some seats have been allotted free of charge to passengers for online ticket booking and check-in for their flights.

Airline's Seat New Rule: Book Seats Together, Airlines Will Seat You Together

According to the airline’s new government-mandated rule, if passengers book tickets under the same PNR (Passenger Name Record), the airline will seat them together.

Passengers can also choose to sit next to each other, as the government prefers.

60% Airline Seat Free: Further Guidelines Issued For Airlines

• Updating more on airline news, the government has issued additional guidelines for airlines. These are
• Subject to safety and operational rules, all airlines must handle the transportation of sports equipment and musical instrument with passenger-friendly manner and with utmost care.
• They need to clearly specify the policies for carrying pets.
• All airlines must strictly adhere to passenger rights in the case of delays, cancellations, and denied boarding.
• They must clearly display passengers' rights on their official websites, booking platforms, mobile applications, and even at airport counters.
• Information about passengers' rights must be clearly stated in regional languages to help them understand better.

Decision Comes Amid Rising Passenger Complaints

The recent government directives to airlines have been issued in response to rising passenger complaints against airlines over charging high fees for several services, including seat selection.

According to officials, measures are taken to bring clarity and consistency to airline practices and relieve travellers of the burden of additional costs.

Emphasis on the Booming Aviation Market

With the rapid rise of India’s domestic aviation sector, it has emerged as the third-largest market internationally, with airports regularly handling around 5 lakh passengers.

Amid this situation, the Ministry of Civil Aviation considered passenger facilitation a top priority, with measures such as UDAN Yatri Cafes and free Wi-Fi at airports.

The latest move is said to make the avian experience more convenient for passengers, in line with the sector's ongoing growth.

Bottom Line

The government’s move to free 60% of airline seats is expected to bring relief to air travellers across India.

By improving seat availability and increasing transparency in airline practices, this step aims to make air travel fairer and more accessible.

With India’s aviation sector growing rapidly, such measures could help improve passenger experience and reduce unnecessary costs for flyers.

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