HC quashes DGCA notification on excess baggage fee

Delhi High Court on Wednesday quashed a circular issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by which Rs 100 per kg fee was fixed for excess checked-in baggage of 15-20 kilos on private airlines.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru set aside the June 10 last year's DGCA circular asking private airlines to charge Rs 100 per extra kg till 20 kg instead of earlier rate of ranging from Rs 220 to Rs 350.

The DGCA in its circular had said that the airlines would be free to charge any fee beyond 20 kilos of excess baggage.

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which has Jet Airways, SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir as its members, had opposed the DGCA circular saying it has no jurisdiction to fix tariff as this power lay with the airlines and the fares were determined by the market forces.

At present, all domestic carriers allow free checked-in baggage up to 15 kgs. Only Air India allows free baggage up to 25 kg.

--IANS

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