In a significant move aimed at improving passenger convenience and transparency, the Central government has directed airlines to make at least 60 percent of seats on every flight available for selection free of charge. The new guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, are intended to ensure fair access to seating options and reduce the additional financial burden often faced by passengers while booking air travel.
Through directions issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the ministry has instructed all airlines to reserve a minimum of 60 percent of seats on every flight for complimentary seat selection. The decision is expected to provide travelers with greater flexibility and reduce the need to pay extra fees simply to choose preferred seats like window and aisle choices, which previously forced flyers to shell out anywhere between ₹300 to ₹3,000 extra.
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An End to Paid Family Seating Rows
Another key provision of the new guidelines relates to passengers traveling under the same Passenger Name Record (PNR). Airlines have been directed to ensure that travelers booked under a single reservation are seated together, explicitly stating they must be kept “preferably on adjacent seats.” The move is expected to particularly benefit families, senior citizens, parents traveling with children, and group travelers. In recent years, passengers have frequently complained about being assigned completely separate rows or random middle seats despite booking tickets together under a single transaction, essentially forcing them to pay auto-selection premium fees just to sit with their families.
Sports Gear and Musical Instruments Overhaul
The government has also instructed airlines to adopt transparent and passenger-friendly policies regarding the carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments. Indian athletes, artists, and professional musicians have often faced intense difficulties at airport check-in counters because of differing airline rules and unexpected baggage charges associated with transporting specialized gear.
The new regulatory directions aim to bring absolute clarity and consistency to these check-in procedures, ensuring that lifestyle and professional equipment are facilitated under safe, uniform operational frameworks without hidden luggage fee traps.
Pet Travel and Multilingual App Policies
Passengers traveling with pets are also set to benefit from the revised framework. The ministry has asked airlines to establish clear, transparent, and publicly accessible policies governing the carriage of pets. This will help travelers easily understand eligibility requirements, weight restrictions, and documentation procedures across different carriers before making travel plans.
To ensure that the average traveler fully understands these benefits, the ministry has directed airlines to drop English-only models. All consumer protection rights and entitlement circulars must now be displayed in clear regional languages across:
- Official airline booking portals and websites
- Smartphone mobile applications
- Automated self-check-in airport kiosks
Strict Enforcement on Delay Cancellations
The government has further emphasized strict compliance with the passenger rights framework, particularly in cases involving flight delays, cancellations, and denied boarding due to overbooking. Airlines have been instructed to ensure that affected passengers receive rapid on-ground assistance, mandatory hotel/refreshment compensation, and seamless alternative routing information.
Aviation sector experts believe that while the ruling protects consumer budgets, its success will depend heavily on the DGCA penalizing defaulting airlines. By forcing carriers to keep 60% of the cabin free from unlock-fees, the government aims to re-balance commercial aviation practices with public welfare.
