IndiGo, SpiceJet Shares React As DGCA Mandates 60% Free Seats On Flights

Shares of InterGlobe Aviation and SpiceJet came under pressure on March 18, 2026, after the Director General of Civil Aviation directed airlines to reserve 60% of seats on every flight without additional charges.

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Stock Movement During Session

InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, rose 3.03% earlier in the session to ₹4,417.50 on the BSE after opening at ₹4,304.15 compared to the previous close of ₹4,287.75. However, the stock pared gains and was trading at ₹4,349.80, up 1.45%, at around 10:44 AM.

The traded volume stood at 0.13 million shares, compared with its two-week average of 0.15 million shares, as per BSE data.

SpiceJet opened at ₹13.24 and rose 1.12% to an intraday high of ₹13.50. The stock later declined and was trading at ₹13.10, down 1.8% during the session. Around 4.6 million shares were traded, lower than the two-week average volume of 25.1 million shares, according to BSE data.

DGCA Directive On Seat Allocation

The DGCA has directed airlines to allocate 60% of seats on each flight without additional charges for seat selection. The directive follows passenger feedback regarding additional costs linked to seat selection, particularly for window and aisle seats.

Airlines currently price seats differently based on location within the aircraft, with certain categories attracting higher fees.

Additional Guidelines For Airlines

The regulator has also instructed airlines to seat passengers under the same Passenger Name Record together, preferably in adjacent seats. This applies to families and groups travelling on the same booking.

Further, airlines have been asked to follow standard practices related to passenger rights and ensure that safety and operational requirements are communicated clearly.

Market Reaction

Following the directive, both airline stocks gave up early gains during the trading session. The movement in share prices reflects changes observed after the regulatory announcement during the day.