Centre suspends order allocating 60% flight seats free of selection charges
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The Union government on Thursday suspended a directive that required airlines to allow passengers to select at least 60% of seats on any flight without an additional fee, the Hindustan Times reported.
The provision, introduced through a March 17 order, has been kept “in abeyance till further orders” pending a “comprehensive examination of the issue”, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
The March 17 circular had directed airlines to allocate at least 60% of seats on every flight without seat selection charges. It also required airlines to seat passengers on the same booking together, preferably in adjacent seats.
The suspension came after the Federation of Indian Airlines, whose members include Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air, raised concerns about the directive’s impact on fares. They said limiting seat selection fees could reduce ancillary revenue and lead to higher base fares.
As of now, Indian airlines charge additional fees for seat selection during web check-in, with only about 5% to 15% of seats typically available without extra charges. Seats towards the front of the aircraft and window seats are usually priced higher.
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