New Delhi: Civil aviation regulator DGCA has allowed domestic airlines to roll out “zero bag” fares and charge a penalty for check-in baggage in tickets booked under such fares. As of now, all domestic airlines, except Air India, allow a flyer to carry up to 15 kg of check-in baggage without any charge. Air India allows passengers to carry up to 23 kg of check-in baggage free.
“Airlines are allowed to offer no check-in baggage/hand baggage only fare schemes subject to the condition that the penalty to be imposed on a passenger, who avails such schemes but turns up with baggage for check-in, cannot exceed the amount of incentive offered compared to the lowest fare,” the DGCA said in its updated Air Transport Circular for unbundling of services issued early this week.
SpiceJet, which first rolled out such a scheme in June this year, said the DGCA move was in line with changing trends. “We welcome this customer and environment friendly move, which is in line with changing trends in the industry,” SpiceJet official G.P. Gupta said. SpiceJet had offered a Rs 200 discount for those travelling with just one carry-on bag and no check-in luggage.
SpiceJet had in June this year rolled out a scheme giving a discount of Rs 200 to every passenger who books a flight with only one handbag and no check-in baggage. But this offer came with a rider: that those who book tickets at discounted fares, but later decide to carry check-in baggage would have to pay a fee of Rs 500 for up to 10 kg and Rs 750 for up to 15 kg baggage.
As part of the unbundling of services, domestic airlines were allowed to charge customers for various facilities like preferred seats, check-in baggage charges and use of lounges by the regulator in April 2015.
In an air transport circular in July, which has now been superseded by the latest circular, the DGCA said check-in baggage charges (above 15 kg of free check-in baggage allowance) can be charged separately on opt-in basis as part of the unbundling of services.
Three domestic carriers — IndiGo, SpiceJet and AirAsia India — had earlier approached the regulator with the “zero bag fare”, offering discount on no check-in luggage. The DGCA, however, at that time rejected the plea after the civil aviation ministry asked it not to allow such a proposal.
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