India, March 19 -- The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Wednesday directed airlines to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight are provided free of charge. The move follows widespread complaints over additional charges for seat selection, particularly for window, aisle and extra-legroom seats. Currently, only a limited number of seats - often middle seats at the back - are available without extra cost. The new directive is expected to reduce the financial burden on passengers, for whom seat selection has increasingly become an additional expense rather than an add-on.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the Government has issued "important directions to further strengthen passenger facilitation measures."

"60 pe...