India’s leading carriers have strongly opposed a government directive requiring airlines to make at least 60% of seats available for free advance selection, warning the move could force ticket-price hikes and deepen industry losses. IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and others, through the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), have asked the civil aviation ministry to withdraw the instruction, saying it will undermine a key revenue stream and threaten airline financial stability.
The ministry issued the directive to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on March 18, 2026, asking regulators to instruct carriers to reserve a minimum of 60% of seats for free advance selection to benefit passengers. On Thursday, March 19, 2026, the FIA sent a letter to Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha outlining what it described as the directive’s “adverse impact” on the aviation sector and requesting its reversal.
Airlines told the ministry that seat-selection fees-normally charged for front rows or seats with extra legroom-are a legitimate and important part of their revenue, typically ranging from ₹200 to ₹2,100 per seat. The FIA said that, in a high-cost environment with thin profit margins, carriers rely on such ancillary income to offset rising operating expenses, including fuel, maintenance and airport charges. The industry argued the decision was taken without prior consultation and would disrupt market-based pricing.
Fuel costs have risen sharply amid recent conflicts in West Asia, the carriers noted, with aviation turbine fuel (ATF) making up roughly 40% of an aircraft’s operating cost. The Air India group has already imposed a ₹400 fuel surcharge on domestic flights, and other airlines are reportedly considering fare increases to cope with higher ATF bills. Against this backdrop, the FIA warned that forcing free seat allocation could leave carriers with no choice but to raise base fares to cover shortfalls.
The dispute highlights a growing tension between regulators’ consumer-focused measures and airlines’ need to protect fragile finances. The FIA’s demand for withdrawal of the directive makes clear the sector expects either a policy reversal or some compensatory measure; otherwise, it says passengers could ultimately face higher overall fares despite the intended benefit of free seat choice.
Original Source: https://assam.nenow.in/airfare-hike-seat-rule/
Category: Popular Stories,দেশ,শীর্ষ সংবাদ
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Publish Date: 2026-03-21 22:17:00
