India suspends order to reserve 60% of flight seats without extra charges
Change
India put in abeyance its March directive instructing the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to require airlines to allocate at least 60% of seats without additional charges, leaving the current 20% free-seat allocation unchanged.
Why it matters
Enforcement of a 60% free-seat quota is paused while the government reviews representations from airlines, creating no immediate regulatory obligation to change seat-pricing or allocation systems. Ticketing platforms and passenger advocates cannot assume increased free-seat availability for upcoming bookings during the review period.
Implications
- — Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) policy and compliance teams must maintain the suspension and refrain from issuing or enforcing any directive that mandates a 60% free-seat allocation until India’s Civil Aviation Ministry issues further orders; failing to do so would breach the ministry communication.
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