India Airlines Oppose Free Seat Mandate

The India — Ministry of Education (India) issued a directive to the India — Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India), mandating that airlines must offer at least 60% of seats for free selection on flights. This decision, aimed at passenger welfare and addressing concerns about high ancillary charges, has met strong opposition from major Indian carriers including IndiGo, India, and SpiceJet, represented by the Federation of Indian Pilots. The airlines argue that seat selection fees are a crucial component of their ancillary revenues, which help offset rising operational costs like fuel and maintenance. They warn that losing this revenue stream will compel them to increase base airfares, ultimately making air travel less affordable for all passengers, including those who do not pre-select seats. The Federation of Indian Pilots has urged Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and the India — Ministry of Education (India) to withdraw the directive, citing a lack of stakeholder consultation and potential adverse consequences for the aviation sector, including undermining market-driven pricing mechanisms and setting a precedent for excessive regulatory intervention.