Even as domestic airlines are being permitted to unbundle services ? including preferential seating and check-in baggage ? and charge separately for these, the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) could end up regulating the charges that the airlines plan to levy for some of these services.
For instance, on preferential seating charges, the aviation regulator plans to limit the number of seats an airline can charge for on a per flight basis.
A top DGCA official said that some regulations are likely to be put in place for charging services. ?In terms of preferential seats, we will put a limit to the number of seats that can be charged every flight. The airlines cannot charge for all the seats in the aircraft and putting a limit is a practice followed globally,? he said.
He, however, added that the aviation regulator does not see any case of misuse by airlines because a passenger can be charged only if the service is opted for.
?If an airline has put a particular seat on charge but no one opts for it, the airline will have to allocate the seat to some passenger without any charge. Also, competition in the industry will take care of a lot of such issues,? said the official.
Globally, airlines are allowed to charge for 10 per cent of the total seats in a flight that includes front seats and the seats besides the emergency exits that provide extra leg space. The civil aviation ministry, in a proposal issued last week, permitted airlines to charge for certain services that include preferential seating, meals, snacks, drinks (barring drinking water), check-in baggage, use of airline lounges, sports equipment and musical instruments and valuable baggage, which have higher carrier-liability. While the airlines are free to charge for these services, they will have to keep the aviation regulator DGCA in the loop. Even as the airlines have not decided on the charges as yet, sources in the industry said the charges likely to be announced soon will cover check-in baggage and preferential seats.
Low-cost carriers, already charge for food offered in the flight and the full-service carriers are reportedly not looking at charging food currently. Airlines also feel that this will help in bringing down effective fares for passengers who do not wish for any frills while flying.
?This is a welcome step and will help in bringing down base fares for passengers, in an ideal environment. But the benefit of this scheme in terms of relief to passengers in terms of fares will take sometime and not happen instantly,? said SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills adding that they have not taken a final call on the services to be charged. An aviation analyst, who did not want to be identified, said that this will also discipline fliers in India.
?The fact is that we are not disciplined fliers and tend to carry a lot while travelling. A flight in Europe with 160 passengers on board will not have more than 70 bags. The case in India is completely opposite and charging for check in baggage will be a step in the right direction,? he said.
