New Delhi, March 18 -- India's civil aviation regulator has mandated airlines to allocate a minimum 60 per cent of seats on any flight free of charge to ensure fair access to the flyers.

At present, airlines invariably charge extra to allocate seats of one's choice.

The civil aviation ministry, through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), also mandated passengers travelling on the same PNR to be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats

Carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments to be facilitated in a transparent and passenger-friendly manner, subject to applicable safety and operational regulations.

The Ministry also suggested that Airlines bring out clear, transparent policies for the carriage of pets.

Th...