New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Monday asked aviation regulator DGCA to explain how it had arrived at the figure of Rs 100 per kg for checked-in baggage weighing between 15 kg to 20 kg.
"Has the government carried out any exercise to determine how much it would cost the airlines due to excess baggage? How have you arrived at this figure of Rs 100," Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva asked while hearing a plea by Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) which has challenged DGCA's circular fixing the charge for excess baggage between 15-20 kgs.
Currently, all domestic airlines allow free checked-in baggage up to 15 kgs. Only Air India allows free baggage up to 23 kg.
Additional Solicitor General P S Patwalia, appearing for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) told the court that the government had the interests of consumers in mind and the decision was taken as numerous complaints were received from passengers about high excess baggage fees.
Senior advocate A S Chandhiok, appearing for FIA, opposed the contention saying it was not informed about any complaints received from passengers.
FIA also said that DGCA did not have the jurisdiction to fix tariff as this power lay with the airlines and added that fares were determined by market forces.
It said that DGCA can interfere only when there are specific instances of discriminatory practice and such circulars cannot be issued in a general manner.
FIA also told the court that three of its member airlines -- Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo, had communicated to DGCA their policy regarding excess baggage charges.
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