Mandate Temporarily Shelved
A recent government order mandating airlines to allocate a minimum of 60% of flight seats without any additional selection charges has been temporarily
suspended. This decision came after considerable opposition from various airlines, who cited concerns regarding operational feasibility and commercial implications. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) communicated to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that this directive would be kept in abeyance pending a thorough review. The representations from the Federation of Indian Airlines, which includes major carriers, and Akasa Air highlighted potential impacts on fare structures and the conflict with the existing deregulated tariff system. This move by the government indicates a willingness to consider the industry's perspective before enforcing such passenger-centric policies.
Airline Revenue and Seat Selection
The stipulation requiring airlines to offer at least 60% of seats free of charge was met with strong resistance because seat selection fees represent a substantial portion of ancillary revenue for carriers. In an industry where base fares are often kept competitive, airlines have increasingly turned to unbundling services, offering add-ons like preferred seat selection, meals, and other amenities to boost their income. Mandating a large percentage of free seats directly impacts this revenue stream, potentially leading to higher base fares to compensate. Traditionally, airlines have offered a limited percentage of seats, typically around 20-30%, for free during initial booking or web check-in, with premium seats incurring extra charges based on factors like location, legroom, and cabin position. This shift towards ancillary revenue generation is a global trend, mirroring practices of international carriers.
Passenger Experience & Co-Seating
Beyond the free seat mandate, the DGCA's directive also included measures to improve the passenger experience, such as ensuring that individuals on the same booking reference (PNR) are seated together, ideally in adjacent seats. While this specific co-seating instruction has not been put on hold, its implementation presents challenges. The presence of passengers who have paid for preferred seats could obstruct the seamless seating of groups, especially families with children. The exact mechanism for enforcing this directive in such scenarios remains unclear. Notably, the DGCA had previously issued a similar directive requiring children under 12 to be seated next to a parent or guardian without extra cost, highlighting a persistent concern for family travel cohesion.
Other Passenger Facilitation Measures
In addition to seat allocation policies, the DGCA's recent communication also emphasized the continued enforcement of other passenger facilitation measures. These include ensuring transparency in seat allocation, facilitating the carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments in a passenger-friendly manner, and establishing clear policies for pet travel. Several incidents of mishandling and damage to sports equipment and musical instruments by Indian carriers had prompted these directives. Furthermore, airlines were instructed to uphold passenger rights rigorously, particularly concerning delays, cancellations, and denied boarding, by prominently displaying these rights across all platforms and ensuring clear communication in regional languages for wider accessibility.
