Airlines can now charge a premium on all seats: DGCA

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has removed the 25% cap on seats that airlines can sell through pre-booking, allowing them to charge a premium on all seats on sale in an aircraft.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has removed the 25% cap on seats that airlines can sell through pre-booking, allowing them to charge a premium on all seats on sale in an aircraft.

In 2013, the aviation ministry had allowed airlines to unbundle charges of services such as preferential seating, meals, snacks, drinks (except drinking water), the use of lounges, baggage, the carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments, and the treatment of valuable items.

“Airlines were allowed to put a price tag on pre-booking of 25% seats. These mostly included the first two rows and the row next to the emergency exit which have extra leg space and the aisle seats,” said an official.

The 25% ceiling has also been removed on foreign flights operated by Indian carriers.