New Delhi: The Civil Aviation Ministry is clearly divided over charging extra for carrying check-in baggage in low-cost airlines. Union Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Tuesday contradicted Minister of State Mahesh Sharma and said it is for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to decide on charging extra for check-in baggage.
Raju said, "Nothing is free, everything is paid for whether it's your baggage, ticket. Airlines at one point of time was considered elitist, today it's no longer that and there are multiple people who go now. We will do nothing to discourage innovation but whatever is accepted by the regulator has to have a reason."
When asked about Sharma confirming that check-in baggage won't be charged, Raju said, "Please ask him. He will explain his mind. I do not think for another person."
On June 27, Sharma had said that the Ministry has rejected proposal by low-cost airlines to charge for check-in baggage. "We have got the proposal from the low-cost flights to charge for check-in baggage. We have rejected it and there will be no consideration at the Aviation Ministry level. We will not want to put this burden on passengers," Sharma had said.
While providing discount to passengers having no check in luggage, low-cost carriers like AirAsia, Indigo and SpiceJet have approached the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to charge Rs 250 for the first luggage, Rs 500 for the second and Rs 1500 for the third.
On Tuesday, SpiceJet offered a discount for "Zero bag" passengers on its domestic flights. The airline, however, said that those who book tickets at discounted fares but later decide to check-in luggage would have to pay a fee of Rs 500 for up to 10 kg and Rs 750 for up to 15 kg baggage.
Under the new fare, passengers with hand baggage only and who book tickets at least 30 days in advance, will pay Rs 200 less than the normal SpiceSaver fare per one-way flight. For a round trip the discount can be as high as Rs 1000, the release said.
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