MKsports south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 10, 2025.(Photo:Xinhua)" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-01-13/190e7c1d-7076-49b5-8473-6bb2905a774e.jpeg" />

Passengers walk down from a C919 jetliner at Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Jan. 10, 2025.(Photo:Xinhua)

China Consumer Association (CCA) on Monday addressed the growing public controversy over additional fees for seat selection in civil aviation. CCA stated that airlines' practice of charging extra for seat selection should not become an "industry practice," according to a statement seen on CCA's official website.

The growing trend of charging additional fees for seat selection in the aviation industry has sparked a public backlash. The association stated that airlines are increasingly charging extra for preferred seats, such as those by the window, aisle, or in front rows, while citing it as a routine industry practice. 

"It is believed that seat selection fees were initially limited to budget airlines, this policy has now extended to mainstream carriers, leaving air passengers with few complimentary seat options," said CCA in the statement, noting that some consumers have reported only a handful of free seat options are available during check-in, unless they pay extra for seat selection. 

In some cases, even those traveling with minors face difficulties securing adjacent seats, forcing them to pay the additional seat selection fee, highlighting both financial and ethical issues as well as the violation of consumers' legitimate rights and interests, the statement noted.

China's civil aviation sector is expected to handle an unprecedented 90 million passenger trips during the upcoming Spring Festival travel season from January 14 to February 22, according to Xu Qing, head of the transport department at the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). 

The average number of daily flights is forecasted to reach 18,500, an 8.4-percent increase year-on-year, Xu said.

Airlines have rolled out specific measures for the Spring Festival travel rush. According to China Southern Airlines, the airline plans to operate over 120,000 flights during the travel peak, representing a 6.2-percent increase year-on-year. This includes close to 9,000 additional flights planned for the period.

In 2024, the aviation sector handled a record 730 million passenger trips, driven by China's ongoing economic recovery and government policies aimed at boosting domestic consumption.

Global Times