Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Jun 30: Issue concerning air passenger baggage has been in the news over the past week with some of the major airlines in India approaching the union government to allow them to charge passengers for check-in baggage. But the government has turned down their demand for the time being.
But hand baggage carried by passengers has become a serious concern for airlines, as already several airlines have issued strict guidelines to passengers to restrict their handbags upto only 7 or 8 kg. IndiGo airlines charges for every additional 7 kg handbag at Dubai airport, be it a dutyfree bag or passenger's personal belonging, and so also budget airline FlyDubai, a subsidiary of Emirates Airlines, which is strictly following the 7 kg handbag guideline.
Air India Express, a subsidiary of India's national carrier has been quite generous compared to other airlines, with passengers being allowed hand luggage up to 10 kg during check-in and also another few kilos from dutyfree. Many times, airline staff help passengers to check in additional baggage just before boarding the flight. This was a rare gesture from AI Express as compared to any other airline in the world. But now, additional baggage has caused huge inconvienence to the airline not only in terms of weight but also safety of the aircraft. The unplanned increase in weight could cause danger to the aircraft, say sources.
In case of passengers carrying additional weight, more than the stipulated 7 kg, the airline may impose AED 60 per kg at the boarding gate.
"Safety of the aircraft is prime concern for us. We do not intend to make money from this guideline, but we need to fly as per the regulations of DGCA. Quite a few times, we had to offload a few bags from check-in baggage due to excess weight carried inside the aircraft," said a senior official in Dubai to daijiworld.com.
The new guidelines are expected to be implemented in all UAE airports from July 1, 2015.