60% of flight seats to be free of cost

THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday directed airlines to make at least 60% of seats on all domestic flights available free of any additional charge and to seat passengers on the same booking reference together, preferably in adjacent seats.

- YARUQHULLAH KHAN

The order follows a rise in passenger complaints over limited free seat availability during web check-ins and sustained pressure from consumer groups and the ministry of consumer affairs.

The ministry had flagged the issue in October 2023, terming the practice of marking most seats as paid an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act and describing such design tactics as dark patterns. Passenger feedback pointed to airlines offering only a handful of seats without any extra charges, often middle seats at the rear, while levying additional charge for most others.