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India orders airlines to allocate 60% of seats for passengers to choose without additional fee
March 19th 2026
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), acting on directions from the country’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, said carriers must allocate at least 60% of seats on every flight without an additional fee, and ensure passengers on the same booking are seated together. Read More » The DGCA explained that it is a move to ensure “fair access.” The directive extends to ancillary services, with airlines required to publish “clear, transparent policies” for carriage of sports equipment, musical instruments, and pets, subject to safety and operational norms, The Economic Times reported. Carriers must also ensure “prominent display” of passenger rights across websites, mobile applications, booking platforms, and airport counters, and communicate entitlements in regional languages.
