‘Give discounts to fliers with only hand baggage’

DGCA HAS DRAWN UP CONCESSIONS ON THE SERVICES OPTED OUT BY A PASSENGER BASED ON FEEDBACK RECEIVED BY THEM

MUMBAI: Soon passengers travelling without check-in luggage will have some concession on their air tickets, thus making fares affordable. The aviation regulator – Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has drawn up concessions on the services opted out by a passenger, based on feedback received by them.

The air transport circular issued by the DGCA on Friday, read, “It is felt at many times that these services provided by the airlines may not be required by passengers while travelling. Considering the fact that unbundling of services and charges thereto, has the potential to make basic fare more affordable and provide consumers with an option of paying for the services which they wish to avail, it has been decided by the government to allow check-in baggage charges separately.”

Arun Kumar, director-general of DGCA said, “The aim is to bring in this unbundling rule, and is issued with immediate effect.”

Until now, a passenger used to pay for his/her air ticket even when his/ her travel was to take place without checking-in any baggage.

Elaborating on this rule, DGCA said, “As part of airline baggage policy, scheduled airlines will be allowed to offer free baggage allowance as well as zero baggage/no check-in baggage fares. This will be subjected to the condition that the passengers booking tickets under such fare scheme are made aware of the charges that shall be applicable if the passenger turns up with check-i luggage at the airline counter. These applicable charges will be reasonable, prominently displayed to the passenger at the time of booking a ticket and also to be printed on the ticket.” The government has also allowed services like seat preference, meal/ snack (except water), sports equipment, musical instrument carriage, free for a special declaration of valuable baggage, to be charged separately by the airlines.