Directorate General of Civil Aviation( DGCA), India allowed domestic airlines to give discounts on ticket prices to passengers who do not carry any baggage or carry only cabin baggage. Passengers have to declare the weight of their baggage while booking the ticket to get the discount. However, after purchasing the discounted tickets, if they turn up at the airport with check-in baggage, they will have to pay extra charges. And now, domestic flights have reduced airline capacity back to 50 per cent from June 1 till July 31, after a government order. This order was passed after a heavy dip in passenger load factor and traffic was noticed as a result of a sudden spike in Covid cases in India.
Government Orders Domestic Flights To Operate At 50 Percent Capacity Till July 31
Currently, domestic flights were operating at up to 80 per cent of their capacity. And now this is the first time since last year that the government has decided to cut the capacity of domestic flights since their resumption of operation in May 2020. From June 1, domestic airlines in India shall fly at only up to 50 per cent capacity till July 31. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Satyendra Kumar Mishra announced this after a dip in passenger load factor and traffic amid the Covid second wave in the nation.
Passengers Need To Declare Weight Of Baggage While Booking Ticket
If you’re taking a domestic flight now, you can get a discount on your ticket fare if you do not carry any check-in baggage. According to the current rules, the weight of cabin baggage can be up to 7 kilograms and check-in baggage can be 15 kilograms. Passengers need to pay extra for additional weight. However, a passenger omitting the 15-kilogram check-in baggage will get an extra discount. To avail the discount, one needs to declare the baggage weight while booking the ticket.
DGCA has said in a statement, “As part of airline baggage policy, scheduled airlines will be allowed to offer free baggage allowance as well as ‘zero baggage/no check-in baggage fares’. This will be subject to the condition that the passenger booking ticket under such fare scheme is made aware of the charges that shall be applicable if the passenger turns up with the baggage for check-in at the airline counter. These applicable charges shall be reasonable; prominently displayed to the passenger at the time of booking of ticket and also to be printed on the ticket.”
DGCA Has Declared ‘Unbundling’ Of Some Other Services As Well
DGCA has also declared ‘unbundling’ of other services like meal charges, sports equipment charges, airline lounge charges, etc. The statement reads, “On the basis of various feedback received, it is felt that many times these services provided by the airlines may not be required by the passengers while travelling. Considering the fact that unbundling of services and charges thereto has the potential to make basic fare more affordable and provide consumer an option of paying for the services which he/she wishes to avail, it has been decided by the government to allow these services to be unbundled and charged separately on opt-in basis,”