Indian airlines to reduce extra baggage fees
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Airlines in India will be forced to reduce their excess baggage fees following a new directive from the country’s Civil Aviation Ministry.
The Hindu reports that the ministry has mandated that airlines should charge just INR100 (US$1.50) for each additional kilogram of baggage, compared to the average of INR300 charged at present. The reduced fares will be applicable for maximum of 5kg extra luggage.
At present, IndiGo, GoAir, AirAsia India and Air India all charge passengers INR250 for every kilogram of extra baggage, while, SpiceJet charges INR300, Jet Airways INR350 and Vistara INR320.
All domestic airlines except Air India allow passengers to carry 15kg of luggage free of charge, with the national carrier setting a limit of 25kg.
The Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) said it was happy with the ministry’s decision.
“It’s an excellent move. There are many instances when passengers are unable to weigh the luggage when he or she is in a hurry and the free baggage limit may exceed marginally. So, passengers can arrive at the airport with a few additional kg of luggage and pay a reasonable amount,” said D Sudhakara Reddy, APAI’s national president.
In another move, Indian airlines will not be allowed to charge cancellation fees more than the basic fare of a ticket.
“We have recently witnessed that while the number of cancellations has come down, the charges have gone up. We feel that the taxes levied on a ticket should be refunded to the passenger in an unperformed journey,” India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju, told the newspaper.
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