The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has issued a directive instructing airlines to ensure prompt delivery of passengers’ baggage within 30 minutes of a flight’s landing at an airport. This directive, aimed at enhancing passenger experience, follows instances of delays in baggage retrieval after flight landings.
BCAS Directive for Timely Baggage Delivery
In an official statement released on Sunday, BCAS emphasized the importance of timely baggage delivery and urged airlines to implement necessary measures to meet this requirement by February 26. The directive, issued on February 16, applies to seven major airlines, namely Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Vistara, AIX Connect, and Air India Express.
As part of the Service Quality Requirements outlined in the Operation, Management, and Delivery Agreement (OMDA), airlines are mandated to ensure that the last piece of baggage is delivered within 30 minutes of the flight’s arrival.
Monitoring Baggage Arrival Performance
Under the guidance of Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, BCAS has been closely monitoring baggage arrival performance at six major airports since January 2024. While there have been improvements in airline performance, they have not fully met the mandated standards.
Key Requirements of the OMDA
According to BCAS, the OMDA requires the first piece of baggage to reach the baggage belt within 10 minutes of the aircraft engine being shut off, with the last bag following suit within 30 minutes. Continued monitoring and compliance efforts are underway to ensure airlines adhere to these standards and enhance overall passenger satisfaction.
(With PTI Inputs)