Cut in excess baggage fee deferred to July 1

The implementation of lower fee structure for excess checked-in baggage carried by fliers has been deferred to July 1 as airlines have sought more time to upgrade their system.

The reduced rates, which were to become effective from June 15, will now come into force from July 1, a senior DGCA official said today.

On Saturday, the government had announced a rate of Rs 100 per additional kilogram of checked-in baggage up to a certain level from the existing charges of Rs 300 per kg.

"Due to system integration problem and software updation by third party as expressed by airlines, the Air Transport Circular 02 of 2016 on unbundling of services addressing the issue of checked-in baggage rate between 15-20 kgs will now be effective from July 1, 2016," the official said.

Last week, Director General of Civil Aviation M Sathiyavathy had said the revised rates would be applicable from June 15.

At present, all domestic airlines allow free checked-in baggage up to 15 kg. Beyond that, they charge Rs 300 per extra kg. Only Air India allows a free baggage of upto 23 kg.

"Airlines have been asked to keep variable checked-in baggage fare between 15-20 kg to benefit passengers who carry checked-in baggage in excess of 15 kg but less than 20 kg," DGCA had said.

Carriers will be free to charge any fee on the baggage weighing beyond 20 kg.

Against the backdrop of concerns in certain quarters about carriers charging high for extra baggage, DGCA has decided to reduce steeply the additional charge levied from passengers in this regard.  RG