New Delhi: The Centre has announced fresh rules aimed at reducing additional charges faced by air passengers while booking tickets. The directions have been issued through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Under the new framework, airlines will not be allowed to levy a separate seat selection fee for 60% of the seats on a flight. The order also states that passengers booking tickets should not be made to pay any additional charges during the booking process.
The DGCA has further directed that passengers registered under the same booking reference should be allotted adjacent seats. In addition, airlines must provide flight-related information to passengers in their mother tongue.
The move is intended to make air travel more accessible and transparent. Airlines had been collecting extra fees for preferred seats—such as window or front-row seats—either after ticket purchase or during online check-in, and the new rules seek to ensure fairer pricing for travellers.
