The Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airlines to make at least 60% of seats on every flight available for selection at no additional cost beyond the airfare, following concerns that passengers were increasingly being charged for seat allocation. This move comes amid complaints that free seat options at the time of booking have become limited, often restricted largely to middle seats. Passengers booked under the same Passenger Name Record (PNR) must be seated together, the Ministry said in a statement. The Ministry has also asked airlines and booking agents to clearly and prominently display passenger entitlements in cases of delays, cancellations, and baggage loss. The plea, filed by social activist S. Laxminarayanan, calls for the establishment of a robust and independent regulator to ensure transparency and passenger protection across the civil aviation sector.

Source: The Hindu March 18, 2026 15:34 UTC