IndiGo's pink seats and the extra fare

A few months ago, IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Ltd) introduced #PinkSeats—a special selection for women during web check-in that allows female passengers to select seats next to other women. While it was positioned as a women-friendly initiative, my recent trip with Indigo made me realize a possible hidden reason behind this change! A redesigned #ArmRest!

The common armrest between two seats has been redesigned to be shorter and thinner, making it nearly impossible for two passengers to rest their arms without touching them.
Thanks to Pink Seats Policy, in all probability, same gender folks are sitting next to each other or folks belonging to the same family. Thus even if the armrest design is changed, disputes arising from unintentional touch would be minimized.
In turn, the airline saves on weight and thus achieves better #fuel efficiency, something Indigo has always been a pioneer in.

Given Indigo’s dominant position in the Indian aviation market, avoiding the airline isn’t an option. So, unless this design is revisited, the best we can do is treat the armrest like a wall and keep our hands inside!

Have you noticed a similar change, if not, do observe it during the next time you fly #Indigo.