The Ministry of Civil Aviation in India has temporarily suspended its directive mandating that airlines offer 60% of seat selections free of charge. This decision comes after airlines, including the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air, raised concerns about the operational and commercial implications of such a requirement. The ministry's initial directive was aimed at improving passenger facilitation, but it faced strong objections from carriers who argued it could disrupt existing fare structures under India's deregulated aviation pricing regime. The ministry's letter, dated 2 April, indicated that the directive would remain in abeyance while a detailed examination of the issue is conducted. Despite this suspension, the ministry has instructed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to continue enforcing other passenger facilitation measures, such as ensuring transparency in seat allocation and co-seating for passengers on the same booking. The aviation sector is currently dealing with rising fuel costs and the financial impact of previous regulations, making this temporary withdrawal of the free seat selection rule a potential relief for airlines struggling to manage expenses.