Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 3: The Centre has put on hold its decision mandating airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats without additional charges, weeks before the rule was scheduled to come into effect.

In a notification issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said the March order was reviewed following representations from the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air.

The airline body flagged “operational and commercial implications,” including concerns over fare structures and compatibility with the current deregulated pricing regime, prompting the government to keep the directive in abeyance. The rule was earlier slated to be implemented from April 20.

Prior to the proposed change, airlines were required to offer only 20 per cent of seats without charge, while the rest attracted fees ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 2,100 depending on factors such as seat location and legroom.

Airlines had warned that the 60 per cent mandate could lead to a rise in ticket prices to offset revenue losses. Industry costs have also been under pressure due to rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices amid geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

The ministry, however, clarified that other passenger-friendly measures introduced earlier will continue. These include transparency in seat allocation, co-seating for passengers under the same PNR, and clear disclosure of charges for services such as carriage of musical instruments, sports equipment, and pets.