Regulator tells airlines to deliver all baggage within 30 minutes of landing
The government has been working to minimize congestion at airports, particularly after December 2022, when certain airports experienced a sudden increase in passenger traffic
The Civil Aviation Ministry’s security division, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), has instructed airlines to guarantee that passengers’ checked luggage is delivered to them within 30 minutes of their arrival. The airlines have been given until February 26 to put in place measures for prompt baggage delivery. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce airport congestion and enhance security.
On February 16, BCAS sent a letter to the airlines after analyzing the time each airline takes to deliver baggage to the conveyor belts. The letter highlighted discrepancies in compliance with the rules. The BCAS has given the airlines a 10-day deadline, until February 26, 2024, to implement the necessary measures, according to a statement from the civil aviation ministry.
First baggage should arrive at the baggage belt within 10 minutes
An official involved in the process revealed that since January this year, BCAS has been examining the time airlines take to clear passengers from the arrival halls of six major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai.
According to the guidelines, the first piece of luggage should reach the baggage belt within 10 minutes of the aircraft engine being switched off, and the last piece should arrive within 30 minutes.
On February 16, 2024, BCAS sent letters to seven airlines, including Air India, Indigo, Akasa, SpiceJet, Vistara, Air India Express Connect, and Air India Express. The airlines were instructed to implement measures to ensure that the last piece of luggage is delivered within 30 minutes, as per the Service Quality Requirements of Operation, Management, and Delivery Agreement (OMDA).
The airlines received a final warning in the form of the letter sent on Friday. If an airline continues to delay baggage delivery, the ministry may be compelled to take action against it, said an anonymous official.
Ongoing efforts to reduce airport congestion
Airport congestion has been a significant issue at major airports in India. The government has been working to minimize congestion at airports, particularly after December 2022, when airports like Delhi and Mumbai experienced a sudden increase in passenger traffic, causing some passengers to miss their flights.
Since then, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has been in ongoing discussions with airports, airlines, and other stakeholders to alleviate congestion. He has been focusing on strategic improvements, such as increasing the number of departure gates, introducing new technologies for quicker security clearance, Digi Yatra, and increasing staff at airports. The minister also removed some lounges and commercial areas at the airports to make room for passenger movement.
He stated in December of the previous year that space allocations for commercial activities are planned based on the principle of ‘to be on the way’ and ‘not in the way’ to ensure a smooth and natural flow of passengers.
A government official stated that ensuring timely baggage delivery will not only expedite passenger clearance, making room for others entering the hall, but will also contribute to airport security.
The official added that since the start of the review exercise, the performance of all airlines is being monitored weekly, which has led to improvements, but they are not yet up to the mandated levels. However, BCAS has instructed the airlines to ensure that the mandated levels are achieved at all airports where they operate.
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