Civil Aviation Ministry: Airlines Must Keep 60% Seats Free, New Rules.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has introduced a significant draft of new regulations aimed at protecting the interests of air passengers in India. According to the proposed guidelines, airlines operating in the country will now be required to keep at least 60% of their total seat capacity free of any 'seat selection charges'. This directive comes in response to growing consumer complaints regarding the practice of charging for almost every seat during the web check-in process, including middle seats. The government's objective is to make air travel more affordable and transparent for the common citizen, while with daily domestic air traffic consistently exceeding 5 lakh passengers, officials emphasize that standardized norms are necessary to prevent arbitrary pricing models that inflate the final cost of travel for families and individual commuters.

Mandatory Allocation of 60 Percent Free Seats

Under the new framework proposed by the ministry, airlines must ensure that 60% of the seats on any given flight are available for selection without an additional fee. Previously, under the 'unbundling of services' policy, airlines had the liberty to charge premiums for window seats, aisle seats, and seats with extra legroom, often leaving very few or no seats for free selection. The new rule mandates that a majority of the aircraft's seating remains accessible to passengers at the base fare. Officials from the ministry stated that while airlines can continue to charge for the remaining 40% of seats—which may include those with preferred locations or extra comfort—the availability of a large pool of free seats will Notably lower the overall expenditure for budget-conscious travelers.

Unified Seating Arrangements for Families and Groups

One of the most critical aspects of the new directive addresses the issue of family seating, while it has been observed that passengers booked under a single Passenger Name Record (PNR) are often assigned scattered seats, forcing them to pay extra if they wish to sit together. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has now instructed airlines to prioritize seating families and groups together without levying additional charges. This is particularly aimed at ensuring that children and elderly passengers aren't separated from their companions. Airlines are expected to calibrate their booking algorithms to automatically group passengers on the same PNR in adjacent or nearby seats, provided they're available at the time of booking or check-in, thereby eliminating the forced purchase of seat preferences.

Transparency in Ancillary Charges and Service Standards

The government has called for absolute transparency regarding ancillary charges, which include fees for carrying sports equipment, musical instruments, and pets. Airlines are now required to clearly list these charges on their official websites, mobile applications, and at airport counters. Also, the ministry has reinforced the standards for passenger compensation in events of flight delays, cancellations, or denied boarding, while the proposed rules emphasize that passengers must be fully informed of their rights and the specific compensation amounts they're entitled to under the Passenger Charter. The directive also seeks to streamline the refund process, ensuring that passengers receive their dues within a stipulated timeframe without facing procedural hurdles from airline customer service departments.

Multilingual Disclosure of Passenger Rights and Policies

To ensure that the benefits of these reforms reach every segment of society, the ministry has mandated that information regarding passenger rights be made available in regional languages. This move is designed to assist travelers from diverse linguistic backgrounds who may not be proficient in English or Hindi. Airlines and airport operators must display these rights prominently across all digital and physical touchpoints, including booking portals and terminal signage. By providing information in local languages, the government aims to empower passengers to hold airlines accountable and seek redressal for grievances more effectively. This initiative is part of a broader digital transformation strategy to make the Indian aviation ecosystem more inclusive and user-friendly.

Strategic Infrastructure Reforms and Regional Connectivity

Beyond regulatory changes, the Ministry of Civil Aviation is focusing on enhancing the overall passenger experience through infrastructure and connectivity initiatives. The 'UDAN' (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme continues to expand, bringing air connectivity to underserved and unserved regions of the country. To complement this, the government has introduced 'UDAN Yatri Cafes' at various airports to provide affordable dining options, while other amenities such as free Wi-Fi and 'Flybraries' (airport libraries) are being integrated into airport designs to improve the quality of transit time. According to ministry officials, these comprehensive measures are intended to position India as a global leader in passenger-centric aviation, focusing on safety, affordability, and ease of travel for the burgeoning middle-class population.