Business
21 Mar, 2026
Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet oppose govt's 60 pc free seat selection decision
Business To Business, New Delhi, 21 March 2026: Major Indian airlines — IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet — have opposed a new government directive on seat selection charges.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has:
- Asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure
- At least 60% of seats on every flight must be available for free selection
Goal: Improve
fair access for passengers and reduce extra charges
Through the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), airlines argue:
- They will lose ancillary revenue (fees from seat selection)
- To compensate, they may have to increase ticket prices
- This could ultimately impact passengers anyway, just indirectly
FIA has urged the government to
withdraw or reconsider the rule
This highlights a common tension in aviation:
- Passengers: Want transparent, lower upfront costs
- Airlines: Rely on add-ons (like seat selection) to keep base fares competitive
If implemented, the rule could make
seat selection cheaper or free for most passengers, but airlines warn it may lead to
higher base airfares, shifting costs rather than eliminating them.