The civil aviation ministry on Thursday withdrew a directive requiring airlines to allow passengers to select at least 60% of seats on every flight without a seat-selection fee, less than three weeks after introducing the measure as part of an effort to strengthen passenger rights.
In a letter dated April 2 to the Director General of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that the provision would be kept “in abeyance until further orders” pending a comprehensive review of the matter.
The ministry said that the rollback came in response to representations from the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air, which raised concerns about the rule’s potential impact on fare structures and its alignment with India’s deregulated tariff regime.
Separately, the government announced a 25% cap on monthly increases in aviation turbine fuel prices for domestic flights, with both measures appearing to be linked to the financial strain caused by rising oil prices and route disruptions associated with the West Asia conflict.
According to the original March 17 circular, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airline operators to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight are allocated free of cost for selection.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an order to make air travel in India more transparent and accessible.
The order issued on Thursday does not impact the other provisions of the March 17 circular. The DGCA has been directed to continue enforcing rules related to co-seating of passengers on the same PNR, transparent policies for the carriage of sports equipment, musical instruments, and pets, as well as clear disclosure of applicable charges.
Indian airlines currently levy ancillary charges for seat selection during web check-in, with only about 5% to 15% of seats on a typical flight available at no extra cost. Seats located toward the front of the aircraft and window seats are generally priced at a premium.
Bureau Report
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