New Aviation Regulations Mandate Free Seats on Flights

In a significant policy shift, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated that airlines must offer at least 60% of seats on flights free of charge starting April 20. This decision follows a directive from the Civil Aviation Ministry aimed at increasing transparency in seat allocation. While this move is expected to benefit travelers, it has sparked concerns among airlines about potential revenue losses, leading to calls for reconsideration of the directive. The aviation sector, which serves over 500,000 passengers daily, is poised for a major transformation as these new regulations come into effect.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 29, 2026, 18:19 IST

New Regulations for Airlines

New Delhi, Mar 29: Starting April 20, airlines will be obligated to provide at least 60% of seats on each flight at no cost, as per the latest guidelines from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

This initiative follows a directive from the Civil Aviation Ministry issued on March 18, which instructed the DGCA to ensure a minimum percentage of seats are available without extra charges.

The updated Air Transport Circular, released on March 20, will take effect 30 days after its announcement.

As outlined in the circular, airlines are required to guarantee that “at least 60% of the seats in any flight shall be offered free of charge” and to uphold a clear seat allocation policy.

"Airlines must maintain transparent seat allocation practices and clearly inform customers about the availability of free seats and the conditions that apply on their booking platforms," states the revised circular from March 20.

The regulator also emphasized that passengers sharing the same Passenger Name Record (PNR) should, whenever possible, be seated near each other, ideally in adjacent seats within the same row.

Currently, only about 20% of seats are typically available for free, while the remainder incurs a fee. Airlines usually charge between Rs 200 and Rs 2,100 for seat selection, depending on factors like location and extra legroom.

The circular further requires airlines to transparently disclose fees for optional services, including those related to sports equipment and musical instruments, along with liability terms in case of damage.

This directive comes in response to rising concerns regarding airlines imposing high charges for additional services, particularly for seat selection.

However, this regulation has faced significant backlash from airlines. IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet have expressed worries that this requirement may lead to increased base fares to compensate for potential revenue losses.

In a letter dated March 20, the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents these airlines, requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to reconsider this decision.

India’s aviation industry serves over 500,000 passengers daily, making this policy change crucial for both airlines and travelers.