DGCA won't allow airlines to charge for check-in baggage up to 15 kg

In some good news for flyers, airlines will not be allowed to charge domestic flyers for check-in baggage weighing up to 15 kg.

According to reports, aviation regulator DGCA has decided to issue an order to airlines in this regard. An earlier DGCA ruling had put check-in baggage under unbundled items category, effectively allowing airlines to charge extra for it.

This comes days after a flip flop by the Union Aviation Ministry over charging extra for check-in baggage in low cost airlines.

While Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma had said that the airlines won't be allowed to charge extra for check-in baggage, Union Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju had ruled it out, saying "nothing is free".

Speaking to CNN-IBN, Sharma had said, "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."

Reacting to this, Raju said, "Nothing is free, everything is paid for whether it's your baggage, ticket. Airlines at one point of time were 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."