Government Halts Free Seat Allocation Mandate

The Indian government temporarily suspended a directive requiring airlines to offer 60% of flight seats without additional fees. This move followed industry feedback highlighting operational challenges and potential fare impact. Currently, only 20% of seats are free, causing concern over high seat selection charges.

In a significant policy reversal, the Indian government has paused its earlier directive requiring airlines to offer 60% of flight seats without additional charges. The directive was set to roll out next month, but has been halted after feedback from industry stakeholders.

The Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air expressed concerns over the directive's operational and commercial impacts, prompting a government review. Airlines currently allocate only 20% of seats free of charge, with the remainder incurring fees ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 2,100.

Civil Aviation authorities stated that this move aims to address passenger complaints about high seat selection fees while balancing industry challenges. The directive is on hold pending comprehensive examination.

(With inputs from agencies.)