- By Nidhi Giri
- Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Centre has put on hold its recent directive requiring domestic airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of flight seats free of charge, just weeks before the rule was set to take effect. On March 18, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had issued the notification, aiming to improve passenger access, transparency, and safety while reducing grievances, but implementation has now been paused.
The ministry had said passenger facilitation remains the highest priority of the government. In line with this commitment, the Ministry had undertaken several passenger-centric initiatives to enhance ease of travel, including UDAN Yatri Cafés for affordable food, Flybrary for free access to books and provision of free Wi-Fi at airports, it added.
"India has emerged as the third-largest domestic aviation market globally, with air travel becoming increasingly accessible and inclusive under the UDAN scheme. Indian airports today handle over five lakh passengers daily, reflecting the rapid growth of the sector," the ministry had said in a statement.
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What Were The New Directives?
-Minimum 60 per cent of seats on any flight to be allocated free of charge to ensure fair access
-Passengers travelling on the same PNR to be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats
-Carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments to be facilitated in a transparent and passenger-friendly manner, subject to applicable safety and operational regulations.
-Airlines shall also bring out clear, transparent policies for carriage of pets.
-Strict adherence to the passenger rights framework, particularly in cases of delays, cancellations and denied boarding.
-Prominent display of passenger rights across airline websites, mobile applications, booking platforms, and airport counters.
-Clear communication of passenger entitlements in regional languages to ensure wider accessibility and awareness.