Government Orders Airlines to Offer 60% Free Seats, Boosts Passenger Rights and Transparency

New Delhi | 18 March 2026 In a major step to improve air travel experience, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed all airlines to ensure that at least 60% of seats on every flight are provided free of cost to passengers. The move aims to make air travel more accessible and fair, while also improving overall passenger convenience. The directives have been issued to “strengthen passenger convenience, transparency and uniformity of practices” across all Indian airlines. According to the official release, passengers often had limited access to free seat selection during booking or check-in. With this new rule, a majority of seats will now be available without additional charges, ensuring better accessibility and reducing extra costs for travellers. The government believes this will bring more fairness in ticket pricing and seating practices across airlines. Another important directive focuses on passenger comfort. The government has stated that travellers booking tickets under the same PNR (Passenger Name Record) should be seated together, with adjacent seating being “preferred” wherever possible. This step is expected to benefit families and groups travelling together, making their journey smoother and more convenient. Additionally, airlines have been instructed to clearly define policies for carrying sports equipment, musical instruments, and pets in a passenger-friendly manner. Strict compliance with passenger rights especially in cases of delays, cancellations, or denied boarding has also been emphasized. Airlines must display passenger rights clearly on websites, apps, booking platforms, and airport counters, along with sharing information in regional languages to improve awareness and accessibility. Government Orders Airlines to Offer 60% Free Seats, Boosts Passenger Rights and Transparency In a major step to improve air travel experience, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed all airlines to ensure that at least 60% of seats on every flight are provided free of cost to passengers. The move aims to make air travel more accessible and fair, while also improving overall passenger convenience. The directives have been issued to “strengthen passenger convenience, transparency and uniformity of practices” across all Indian airlines. According to the official release, passengers often had limited access to free seat selection during booking or check-in. With this new rule, a majority of seats will now be available without additional charges, ensuring better accessibility and reducing extra costs for travellers. The government believes this will bring more fairness in ticket pricing and seating practices across airlines. Another important directive focuses on passenger comfort. The government has stated that travellers booking tickets under the same PNR (Passenger Name Record) should be seated together, with adjacent seating being “preferred” wherever possible. This step is expected to benefit families and groups travelling together, making their journey smoother and more convenient. Additionally, airlines have been instructed to clearly define policies for carrying sports equipment, musical instruments, and pets in a passenger-friendly manner. Strict compliance with passenger rights especially in cases of delays, cancellations, or denied boarding has also been emphasized. Airlines must display passenger rights clearly on websites, apps, booking platforms, and airport counters, along with sharing information in regional languages to improve awareness and accessibility.