New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a landmark directive requiring Indian airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight without any additional selection fees. This regulation, detailed in an amended Air Transport Circular dated March 20, 2026, is scheduled to take effect on April 20. The move follows a formal request from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to ensure fair access for travelers, particularly those who have faced rising costs—ranging from ₹200 to ₹2,100—for selecting seats during the booking process.
Under the new guidelines, airlines must maintain a transparent seat allocation policy and clearly display the availability of free seats on their digital booking interfaces. Furthermore, the regulator has instructed carriers to ensure that passengers traveling on the same PNR (Passenger Name Record) are allotted seats in proximity to one another, typically meaning adjacent seats in the same row, whenever practicable. Currently, many airlines only provide roughly 20 per cent of their seats for free, with most window, aisle, and extra-legroom options carrying a premium.
The directive has encountered significant pushback from major carriers, including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet. Represented by the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), these carriers have urged the ministry to withdraw the decision, arguing that the loss of ancillary revenue will force a hike in base airfares. Despite these objections, the DGCA is moving forward with the 30-day implementation window to allow airlines to reconfigure their systems. The circular also mandates clearer disclosure of charges for optional services, such as the transport of musical instruments or sports equipment, to protect consumers from hidden costs.
