New Delhi, Jan 13 (Agencies): National carrier Air India will reserve six seats for women on domestic flights starting January 18, news agency ANI reported. The airline will not charge anything extra for blocking such seats for women passengers.

This is perhaps the first time such a gender-specific reservation is being implemented in an airline anywhere in the world - though it is in keeping with all other modes of transportation in India.

"We will be reserving the third row — six seats — in the economy class of the aircraft fon or female passengers travelling alone," Air India general manager-revenue management Meenakshi Malik told The Hindu. "We feel, as national carriers, it is our responsibility to enhance comfort level to female passengers. There are a lot of female passengers who travel alone with us and we will be blocking a few seats for them."

According to a report by Business Standard, "Air India has taken the decision after a flyer reportedly groped a woman co-passenger on-board in the carrier's Mumbai-Newark flight late last month. Apparently, a business class flyer changed his seat to sit next to a female passenger in the economy class and allegedly groped her when she was asleep.

"Interestingly, no other airlines company in the world provides any special privilege for women passengers. However, in Indian Railways, both local and long-distance trains, metros and buses such facilities are provided to female commuters," the report stated.