In a last-minute move, the government has put on hold its proposed rule mandating airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats without additional charges, just weeks before it was scheduled to be implemented.
The directive, announced earlier by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to curb rising ancillary fees, has now been paused following strong objections from airlines, raising questions over the timing and preparedness of the policy.
The proposed regulation sought to ensure that a majority of seats on each flight were offered without extra charges for services such as seat selection — a growing source of revenue for carriers.
However, airlines pushed back, arguing that such charges form a crucial part of their earnings in a highly competitive market. They also warned that the move could disrupt pricing strategies and impact financial viability.
The government has not announced a new timeline and has indicated that the proposal will be reviewed through further consultations with stakeholders.
The decision to halt the rollout so close to implementation has drawn attention within the sector, with the episode highlighting concerns over policy consistency and the influence of industry feedback on regulatory decisions
