The Ministry of Civil Aviation has kept in abeyance its earlier directive requiring airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats free of charge on flights, pending further review.
In a communication to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Ministry stated that the matter had been re-examined following representations from the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air, which highlighted operational and commercial concerns, including the potential impact on fare structures and alignment with the deregulated tariff regime.
The Ministry noted, “In view of the above, and pending a comprehensive examination of the issue, it has been decided that the provision relating to offering at least 60% of seats free of charge shall be kept in abeyance till further orders.”
However, the Ministry has directed the DGCA to continue enforcing other passenger facilitation measures outlined in its earlier communication dated March 17, 2026. These include ensuring transparency in seat allocation, co-seating of passengers on the same PNR, and clear disclosure of applicable charges.
The Ministry further stated, “DGCA may, however, ensure continued enforcement of other passenger facilitation measures… including carriage of musical instruments, sports equipment and pets, and clear disclosure of applicable charges.”
The letter stated that the decision has been issued with the approval of the competent authority and comes as the government evaluates the broader implications of the proposed measure on the aviation sector.
