NEW DELHI: In a major relief for air travellers across India, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued fresh guidelines to curb additional charges on seat selection and enhance passenger rights.
As per the new directive, airline operators have been instructed to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight are made available for selection free of cost, aimed at promoting fairness and accessibility in air travel.
The order, issued through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, is part of a broader effort to make flying more transparent, passenger-friendly, and affordable.
In addition to the seat allocation mandate, the ministry has outlined several key measures to improve the overall travel experience:
- Passengers travelling under the same PNR should be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats.
- Airlines must adopt clear and transparent policies for the carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments, in line with safety and operational norms.
- Carriage of pets must also be governed by well-defined, passenger-friendly guidelines.
- Strict compliance with existing passenger rights must be ensured, particularly in cases of flight delays, cancellations, and denied boarding.
- Passenger rights information must be prominently displayed across airline websites, mobile apps, booking platforms, and airport counters.
- Airlines must clearly communicate passenger entitlements in regional languages to improve awareness and accessibility.
As part of its broader passenger facilitation push, the ministry has also introduced initiatives such as UDAN Yatri Cafés offering affordable food, ‘Flybrary’ services providing free access to books, and free Wi-Fi facilities at airports across the country.
Officials said the new guidelines are aimed at making air travel more inclusive, transparent, and convenient for passengers.
