Delhi High court set aside excess baggage fee

The Delhi High Court set asides Rs. 100 per kg fee fixed by the Director General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) for excess checked-in baggage of 15-20 kg on private airlines.

As per the DGCA's circular dated 10 June 2016, private airlines had been allowed to charge Rs. 100 per extra kg till 20 Kg as against the earlier rates, ranging from Rs. 220- Rs. 350.. This circular came into effect last year as the court has not stayed it or deferred the date of implementation.

Currently, all domestic carriers allow free checked- in baggage up to 15kg and only Air India allows free baggage up to 23 kgs.

The DGCA has asserted that airlines are free to charge any fee beyond 20 kg of baggage. The court has said that the amount charged by Federation of Indian Airlines succeeded in challenging the circular.

FIA in its plea said that DGCA does not have jurisdiction to fix tariff as this power solely lies with the airlines and determined through market forces. Further, it contended that DGCA can interfere only when there are specific instances of discriminatory practices.