AMN /
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has allowed domestic carriers to roll out zero bag fare scheme and charge penalty against check-in baggage for tickets booked under the offer. At present all domestic private airlines except Air India allow a flyer to carry up to 15 kgs of check-in baggage without any cost. The Air India allows its passengers to carry up to 23 kgs of check-in baggage free of cost.
In a circular issued early this week, the DCGA said airlines are allowed to offer no check-in baggage and hand baggage only fare scheme. However, the offer would be 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 at airline counter cannot exceed the amount of incentive offered.
Reacting to the development, SpiceJet, which had first rolled out such a scheme in June this year, said regulator’s move is in line with the changing trends in the industry. The domestic carriers IndiGo, SpiceJet and AirAsia India had earlier approached the DGCA with the zero bag fare, offering discount on no check-in luggage. However, request was rejected after the civil aviation ministry asked DGCA not to allow such a proposal.