New rules to charge lower rates on excess baggage by Indian carriers will become operational from July 1.
Last Saturday, in a passenger friendly move, the Civil Aviation Ministry had announced that airlines would charge substantially lower rates for excess baggage up to 5 kg beyond the 15 kg limit on checked-in baggage.
As per the new norms, airlines can now charge only Rs. 100 from passengers for every extra kg of excess baggage provided a passenger does not carry more than 5 kg of extra weight.
Right now, most airlines charge anywhere between Rs. 300 and Rs. 400 for every kg of excess baggage.
Though the aviation ministry wanted the revised rates to be applicable from June 15, airlines have requested for two weeks' time to change over.
"Due to system integration problem and software updated by the third party as expressed by airlines, the issue of checked in baggage rate will now be effective from July 1," said a senior official of the aviation regulator, the Director General of Civil Aviation or DGCA.
Apart from lower rates, the ministry had announced a host of passenger-friendly measures such steep compensation in case of offloading and flight cancellation. The proposed changes have been put up for public comments on the DGCA website.
"Other measures will take about a month's time as the final policy will be decided after going through public suggestions," said a senior aviation ministry official.
Last Saturday, in a passenger friendly move, the Civil Aviation Ministry had announced that airlines would charge substantially lower rates for excess baggage up to 5 kg beyond the 15 kg limit on checked-in baggage.
As per the new norms, airlines can now charge only Rs. 100 from passengers for every extra kg of excess baggage provided a passenger does not carry more than 5 kg of extra weight.
Right now, most airlines charge anywhere between Rs. 300 and Rs. 400 for every kg of excess baggage.
Though the aviation ministry wanted the revised rates to be applicable from June 15, airlines have requested for two weeks' time to change over.
"Due to system integration problem and software updated by the third party as expressed by airlines, the issue of checked in baggage rate will now be effective from July 1," said a senior official of the aviation regulator, the Director General of Civil Aviation or DGCA.
Apart from lower rates, the ministry had announced a host of passenger-friendly measures such steep compensation in case of offloading and flight cancellation. The proposed changes have been put up for public comments on the DGCA website.
"Other measures will take about a month's time as the final policy will be decided after going through public suggestions," said a senior aviation ministry official.