Airlines to offer 60% seats in flights without extra fees from April 20, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Airlines will offer at least 60% of seats on flights without extra fees starting April 20.
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an amended Air Transport Circular on March 20.
• Airlines must maintain transparent seat allocation policies and communicate the availability of free seats.
• Passengers with the same Passenger Name Record (PNR) should be seated in close proximity.

Detailed Insights:

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation directed the DGCA on March 18 to ensure fair access to seats for passengers.
• The amended circular mandates airlines to allocate a minimum of 60% of seats for free selection on any flight.
• Airlines are required to clearly communicate the availability of free seats and applicable conditions on their booking interfaces.
• Passengers traveling together under the same PNR should be allotted seats in close proximity, ideally adjacent seats in the same row.

Key Concepts Involved:

• DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation): The aviation regulatory body responsible for safety, security, and airworthiness standards in India.
• PNR (Passenger Name Record): A record in the database of a computer reservation system that contains the details of a passenger's itinerary.
• Air Transport Circular: A directive issued by the DGCA to airlines regarding specific operational or policy matters.