In Big Relief For Flyers, Centre Mandates 60% Seats On Flights To Be Free Of Charge

Last Updated:March 18, 2026, 10:01 IST

Ministry of Civil Aviation released guidelines to enhance passenger experience, ensure transparency and upholding the highest standards of safety across the aviation ecosystem.

Ministry of Civil Aviation releases fresh guidelines to enhance passenger experience. (Representative Image)

In a major relief for flyers in India, the government has stepped in to curb extra charges on seat selection and tighten passenger rights across airlines.

Issuing fresh guidelines, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airline operators to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on any flight are allocated free of cost for selection.

The ministry, further in efforts to ease passenger facilitation, has undertaken several initiatives to enhance ease of travel, including UDAN Yatri Cafés for affordable food, flybrary for free access to books and the provision of free Wi-Fi at the airports across the country.

The order, issued through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, aims to make air travel more accessible and transparent.

Here are the latest guidelines mentioned by the ministry to strengthen passenger facilitation in Indian aviation:

• Minimum 60% of seats on any flight to be allocated free of charge to ensure fair access.
• Passengers travelling on the same PNR are to be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats.
• Carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments to be facilitated in a transparent and passenger-friendly manner, subject to applicable safety and operational regulations.
• The Ministry has also ordered the airlines to bring out clear, transparent policies for the carriage of pets.
• Strict adherence to the passenger rights framework, particularly in cases of delays, cancellations and denied boarding.
• Prominent display of passenger rights across airline websites, mobile applications, booking platforms, and airport counters.
• Clear communication of passenger entitlements in regional languages to ensure wider accessibility and awareness.

India’s domestic aviation sector has grown rapidly in recent times and has emerged as the third-largest market globally, with airports handling over five lakh passengers daily.

The latest directive is part of a broader push to bring uniformity in airline practices and reduce the burden of additional charges on travellers.

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