In a major relief for air travellers, the Centre has directed airlines to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight are provided free of cost, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a release. The move aims to ensure fair access for passengers.
The government has also issued a series of directives to improve passenger convenience, transparency, and uniformity across airline operations.
As per the new rules, airlines must seat passengers together if they are booked under the same PNR, with preference given to adjacent seating.
Additionally, carriers have been asked to adopt clear and passenger-friendly policies for transporting sports equipment, musical instruments, and pets, in line with safety norms.
Airlines have been instructed to strictly comply with passenger rights, particularly in cases of delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. They must also clearly display passenger rights on their websites, mobile apps, booking platforms, and at airport counters.
To improve awareness, airlines will be required to provide information on passenger entitlements in regional languages as well.