Airlines to offer 60% seats free from April 20

Airlines will start offering at least 60 per cent of seats free of cost beginning April 20, following a March 20 directive from the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA), amidst concerns of airlines levying high charges for various services, including seat selection.

The civil aviation regulator has also directed airlines to ensure that passengers with the same PNR are allotted seats in close proximity as far as possible. An official of the DGCA confirmed that these directives will come into effect on April 20, 30 days after they was issued. In its communication to airlines dated March 20 the DGCA wrote, at least “60 per cent of the seats in any flight shall be offered free of charge”. It added, “Airlines should maintain transparent seat allocation policies and clearly communicate the availability of free seats and applicable conditions on their booking interfaces.”

“Airlines should maintain transparent seat allocation policies and clearly communicate the availability of free seats and applicable conditions on their booking interfaces,” the circular further read.At present, 20 per cent of the seats can be booked free of charge, while the rest are paid.

Airlines charge between INR 200 to INR 2,100 for choosing seats, depending on various factors, including front rows and extra leg room, a travel industry executive had said.

Among other aspects, the circular has mentioned that all relevant charges for optional services relating to sports equipment or musical instruments, including any liability conditions in case of damage, should be displayed in a transparent and unambiguous manner on airline websites and booking platforms.

Last week, IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet raised strong objections to the decision, asking airlines not to levy any charges for the selection of at least 60 per cent seats on flights, saying the move will force them to hike airfares to recover lost revenues.

In a letter to the civil aviation ministry on March 20, the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents the three airlines, had urged the ministry to take steps to withdraw the decision.Indian airports handle over five lakh passengers daily.