In a positive move to make air travel cheaper for travelers, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a new circular, as per the new circular, passengers carrying no check-in baggage get concessions in flight tickets! airlines have been directed to provide concessions in flight ticket prices to passengers who carry no baggage. The circular reads that the airfares charged by the airlines include charges of some of the services rendered by them.
However, based on the feedback, the DGCA has decided that often several services provided by the airlines by the airlines may not be required by the flyers while traveling.
These services are preferential seating, meal or snack or drink charges (except for water), charges for using airline lounges, check-in baggage charges, sports equipment charges, music instrument charges, and fees for special declaration of valuable baggage.
Check-in baggage fee: As part of the airline baggage policy, airlines will be allowed to offer free baggage allowance as well as “Zero Baggage or No Check-In baggage fares”. However, the flyers purchasing tickets under the scheme must not carry check-in baggage at the airline counter. If they carry check-in luggage, “reasonable charges” shall be levied, the DGCA mentioned in the circular.
“Sub-rule (1) of rule 135 of the Plane Guidelines, 1937 states that each air transport undertaking engaged in scheduled air services shall set up tariff having regard to all relevant factors, including the cost of operation, characteristics of service, reasonable profit and the generally prevailing tariff,” the DGCA said.
“The airfares so established by the airlines also include charges for some of the services rendered by them. On the basis of various feedback received, it’s felt that many a time these providers provided by the airways may not be required by the passengers whereas traveling. Considering the fact that unbundling of services and charges thereto has the potential to make basic fare more affordable and gives the consumer an option of paying for the services which she or he wishes to avail, it has been decided by the Government to permit the following services to be unbundled and charged separately to allow various services to remain unbundled and charged separately,” the DGCA said.
