(a) whether baggage fees being charged by various Airlines are approved by the Aviation Regulator and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether Air Asia India has decided not to allow any free check-in baggage without the approval of the regulator; and
(c) if so, the action taken by the Government/Directorate General of Civil Aviation against the Airline?
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri G. M. Siddeshwara)
(a):- Air Transport Circular No. 03 of 2013 issued by DGCA allows certain services to be unbundled and charged separately on opt in basis which includes check in baggage also. Airline seeking to charge for unbundle services are required to file the same with DGCA as per the said circular.
Although scheduled airlines are free to fix the charges/fee for the unbundled services, yet DGCA reserves the right to intervene and stop the scheduled airlines from charging for any specific unbundled service if principles such as opt-in, transparency, non-discrimination are found to be violated by the airlines.
(b) and (c):- Air Asia is allowing free check-in baggage up to 15 kgs for domestic flights.