Airlines May Have to Offer 60% Seats Without Selection Charges Under New Government Directive

New Delhi, 19th March 2026: The central government has asked airlines to make at least 60 percent of seats on every flight available without charging passengers a seat selection fee. The move is aimed at making air travel more passenger-friendly and addressing frequent complaints about additional charges.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Wednesday instructed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to issue the necessary directive to airlines.

Under the proposed rule, airlines will have to ensure that a majority of seats on each flight can be selected without paying an additional charge. The government also wants passengers travelling under the same Passenger Name Record (PNR), such as families or groups, to be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats.

The decision comes after repeated criticism of airlines for imposing various charges over and above the base ticket fare, including seat selection fees.

According to government officials, the policy seeks to guarantee that at least 60 percent of seats are accessible without extra cost, ensuring fair access to passengers who do not want to pay for seat selection.

However, airline industry executives have expressed concerns about the practicality of the directive. They argue that if around 40 percent of seats remain available for paid pre-booking, it may become difficult to always ensure that passengers travelling on the same PNR are seated together.
Some airline officials are also examining whether the directive would hold up legally once implemented.

Privately, industry representatives have criticised the move, saying it could affect airline revenues at a time when operational costs are rising. Executives pointed to fare caps in the domestic aviation sector and higher expenses linked to the ongoing tensions in West Asia as additional pressures on airlines.

Earlier, in April 2024, the aviation regulator had already mandated that airlines must seat children up to the age of 12 with at least one accompanying guardian without charging any additional fee.

Apart from seat allocation, the minister has also asked the regulator to ensure that airlines adopt transparent and passenger-friendly policies for the carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments, while adhering to safety and operational rules. Airlines will also be required to publish clear guidelines regarding the transportation of pets on flights.