No charging for check-in baggage, for now: Govt

Mahesh Sharma, MoS for Civil Aviation said the government has not accepted the request at this stage as it would put additional burden on the passengers

Putting its weight firmly behind passengers, government today said it has, as of now, rejected budget carriers' plea to allow them to charge for check-in baggage.

Confirming that airlines had approached the aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation for its nod, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said the government has not accepted the request at this stage as it would put additional burden on the passengers.

"We have got the proposal from low-cost flights to charge for check-in baggage. We have rejected it and there will be no consideration at the Aviation Ministry level. We will not want to put this burden on passengers," Sharma told a private TV news channel.

Sharma, however, said that his ministry has asked the airlines to send a detailed proposal on the issue and if it is found in the interest of the passengers, it may consider it.

When contacted, a SpiceJet official said, "We have not made the plea since the March 2015 circular of the DGCA, allowing the airlines to unbundle services.

"Have not heard about it (government rejecting airlines plea)," an AirAsia India official said in his response when asked for his reaction on the matter.

IndiGo spokesperson could not immediately be contacted for his response.