(a) whether the practice of charging of ancillary services on
domestic flights is
likely to grow as competition soars;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the present status thereof; and
(c) the steps being taken/proposed to be taken by the Government
to safeguard the
interests of the passengers and provide them better services?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (SHRI K. C. VENUGOPAL)
(a) and (b): With a view to make basic fare more affordable and to provide
consumer an option of paying for the services which he/she wishes to avail,
scheduled airlines have been allowed to unbundle services like Check-in
baggage charges, Preferential seating, Meal/snack/drink charge, Charges for
using airline lounges, charges for carriages Sports equipment and Musical
instruments, Fees for special declaration of valuable baggage (allow for
higher unit on carrier liability) etc. to be unbundled and charged
separately on opt-in basis subject to compliance of requirements specified
in Air Transport Circular No. 03/2013 issued by Directorate General of
Civil Aviation (DGCA). The said circular is available in DGCA
website http://www.dgca,nic.in.
The process of unbundling has just been started. Therefore, no
assessment is possible at this stage about its future growth.
(c) With regard to passenger facilitation, DGCA has issued the
following Civil
Aviation Requirements:
(i) CAR, Section 3, Series M, Part-I on `Carriage by Air of Person
with Disability
and or With Reduced Mobility,
(ii) CAR, Section 3, Series M, Part-II on `Refund of Airlines Ticket
to Passengers of
Public Transport`
(iii) CAR, Section 3, Series M, Part IV on `Facilities to be
provided to the
passengers by airlines due to Denied Boarding, Cancellation of
Flights and Delays
of Flights`.