One of the most inconvenient moments while checking in at the airport is when you find out that your luggage is just over the permissible limit, and you have to pay for the extra kilos. Now however, having that extra weight will burn a bigger hole in your pocket.
The Delhi High Court quashed a circular issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday, by which Rs 100 per kg fee was fixed for excess checked-in baggage of 15-20 kilos on private airlines.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru set aside last year's DGCA circular dated June 10 asking private airlines to charge Rs 100 per extra kg till 20 kg instead of earlier rate of ranging from Rs 220 to Rs 350.
The DGCA in its circular had said that the airlines would be free to charge any fee beyond 20 kilos of excess baggage.
The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which has Jet Airways, SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir as its members, had opposed the DGCA circular saying it has no jurisdiction to fix tariff as this power lay with the airlines and the fares were determined by the market forces.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru said that DGCA had no power to fix such tariff for excess checked-in baggage.
At present, all domestic carriers allow free checked-in baggage up to 15 kgs. Only Air India allows free baggage up to 20 kg.