India Mandates 60% Free Seats on Flights from 2026

India's aviation regulator has mandated that airlines allocate at least 60 percent of seats on every flight free of charge starting April 20, 2026, aiming to enhance passenger access and transparency in a sector serving over 500,000 travelers daily.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued the directive through an amended Air Transport Circular on March 20, following instructions from the Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on March 18. Under the new rules, passengers will be able to select from a majority of seats without paying extra fees during booking or web check-in. Currently, airlines offer only about 20 percent of seats for free, charging between 200 and 2,100 rupees for preferred options such as front-row positions or extra legroom, depending on the flight and carrier.

The policy addresses longstanding complaints about hidden ancillary charges that inflate travel costs. Airlines must now maintain transparent seat allocation systems, clearly displaying free seat availability and conditions on their websites and booking platforms. For groups traveling under the same Passenger Name Record, carriers are required to seat them together whenever practicable,...