The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has issued a new directive requiring airlines to offer a minimum of 60 percent of seats on every flight without charging extra fees. This rule will come into effect from April 20 and is aimed at improving transparency and protecting passenger interests.
Under the new guidelines, airlines must clearly display the availability of free seats and avoid hidden charges during the booking process. The regulator has also instructed carriers to maintain fair and transparent seat allocation policies, ensuring passengers are not forced to pay additional fees unnecessarily.
This decision comes amid rising concerns over extra charges levied by airlines for seat selection, which often increases the overall cost of travel. By mandating a majority of seats to be available without additional cost, the move is expected to provide relief to passengers and make air travel more affordable.
Airlines are currently preparing to implement the directive, and compliance will be closely monitored. The regulation marks a significant step toward improving customer experience and fairness in the aviation sector.
