Budget carriers propose charging for check-in baggage

The civil aviation regulator on Friday said leading budget passenger carriers have sought permission from it to levy charges on all check-in baggage.

According to a senior official with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), leading budget passenger carriers have sought the regulator's permission to charge for the check-in baggage in line with international practices.

Major low cost carriers (LCCs) such as AirAsia India, SpiceJet and IndiGo have asked for permission from the regulator for imposing such kind of a charge.

Currently, passengers are allowed to check-in up to 15 kg of baggage for free.

The new proposal envisages charging anywhere between Rs.250 and Rs.1,500 for check-in luggage on piece-basis.

To sweeten the deal, the LCCs have also proposed that those passengers with no check-in baggage will be given discount.

"We have called for views from all the airlines. We will also be taking in the views from other stakeholders and only after that the proposal will be put forth for consideration," the official told IANS.

The official elaborated that the new policy should be universal for all airlines which will include full-service carriers like Air India and Jet Airways.

Earlier in the year, the regulator had allowed the airlines to un-bundle services and impose charges separately for special facilities like preferred seats.

"We have earlier allowed the airlines to put up charges for seats. This was also done after consultation and evaluation. The decision for allowing charges on check-in baggage will also be taken in a similar manner," the official elaborated.

The airlines plead that ferrying luggage costs more fuel which forms nearly 40-50 percent of the total operational cost.

The fuel cost in India is also steeply charged due to the addition of value added tax (VAT) ranging between 3-33 percent at different places across the country.