Bengaluru: In a landmark move aimed at improving passenger experience, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has introduced new guidelines requiring airlines to allocate a minimum of 60% of seats without additional charges.
The directive directly addresses long-standing concerns among travellers regarding hidden costs, particularly seat selection fees, which have become a common revenue stream for airlines. Under the new rules, passengers will have greater access to standard seating without incurring extra charges, ensuring more transparent and equitable pricing.
Additionally, the DGCA has mandated that passengers travelling under the same Passenger Name Record (PNR), such as families or group bookings, must be seated together wherever possible. This rule is expected to significantly enhance travel convenience and eliminate a frequent source of dissatisfaction among flyers.
The guidelines also reinforce broader passenger rights, including improved handling of delays, cancellations, and baggage policies. Airlines are now required to clearly display passenger rights across booking platforms and ensure communication in regional languages to improve accessibility.
These reforms reflect India’s ongoing efforts to make air travel more inclusive and consumer-friendly, aligning with the country’s rapid growth as one of the world’s largest domestic aviation markets.
For airlines, however, the changes may impact ancillary revenue streams, prompting them to explore alternative monetisation strategies.
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