The Civil Aviation Ministry of India has decided to suspend its directive requiring airlines to provide at least 60% of seats free of charge on all flights. This decision follows concerns raised by the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air about the potential operational and commercial implications of the rule, including its impact on fare structures and the existing deregulated tariff regime. The ministry's letter, dated April 2, indicated that the directive would remain in abeyance until further notice while a detailed examination is conducted. Previously, the ministry had instructed airlines to strengthen passenger facilitation measures, which included the requirement for free seats, effective from April 20. Currently, airlines typically allow only around 20% of seats to be selected without additional fees, with charges ranging from ₹200 to ₹2,100 (approximately $2.40 to $25.50 USD) based on various factors such as seat location and legroom. Other measures related to passenger facilitation, such as transparency in seat allocation and co-seating on the same passenger name record (PNR), will continue to be enforced.