 "One bag only: What are new hand baggage rules for Indian airlines?")
The holidays have come, airports are packed, and emotions are running high.
However, as you hop onto your flight, it’s necessary to stay up-to-date with the rules and regulations.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Wednesday introduced new hand baggage rules to streamline the system.
As airports get busier, new guidelines are being implemented to manage the increasing number of passengers and ensure better security.
Here’s a detailed look at the latest changes:
The new hand baggage rules
Under the new regulations, travellers are only permitted to bring one piece of baggage on every flight. This is applicable for both domestic as well as international travel. You will need to check in the additional luggage if you are carrying more than one bag.
The weight restrictions for hand luggage differ based on your travel class. One handbag up to seven kilos is permitted for passengers in Economy and Premium Economy class, and up to 10 kilos is permitted for those in First and Business class.
Additionally, there are tight limits on size for your hand baggage. A height of 55 centimetres (21.6 inches), a length of 40 centimetres (15.7 inches), and a width of 20 centimetres (7.8 inches) are the maximum dimensions permitted.
Make sure your bag fits within these limits to avoid any issues at security.
The purpose of the new baggage rules is to facilitate passenger flow through security checkpoints.
Airport congestion brought on by the rise in air travel, especially in India, has resulted in delays at security checks.
The efficiency of the airport will increase as fewer bags need to be inspected, resulting in speedier security checks and less traffic.
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Who is not affected?
Those passengers who booked their tickets prior to May 2, 2024, are exempt from the revised handbag weight regulations.
Certain exemptions apply to these passengers: Passengers in economy class are allowed to bring up to eight kilos, those in premium economy up to 10, and those in first and business class up to 12.
The revised baggage regulations will apply to tickets purchased after May 2, 2024.
Regardless of class, passengers will be limited to the new restrictions.
To comply with the new regulations, airlines like IndiGo and Air India have also revised their baggage policy.
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The new Wi-Fi rule for domestic airlines
The Indian government released new rules last month that govern using internet services on domestic flights.
The passengers will only be permitted to use Wi-Fi and other internet services until the aircraft reaches a height of 3,000 metres, or around 9,843 feet, above the ground, according to a statement made by the Civil Aviation Ministry.
The move aimed to strike a balance between passenger convenience and the safety of aerial operation.
These rules were issued at a time when passengers who want to stay connected even when flying at high altitudes are increasingly using in-flight internet services.
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The rise in airline passengers
Over the past few months, there has been a notable increase in the number of passengers on airlines.
Due to increased demand for air travel, Indian airlines carried 1.42 crore passengers on domestic routes in November, which is about 12 per cent more than during the same month the previous year.
“Passengers carried by domestic airlines during January-November 2024 were 1,464.02 lakh as against 1,382.34 lakh during the corresponding period of the previous year, thereby registering an annual growth of 5.91 per cent and monthly growth of 11.90 per cent,” according to the latest data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Airlines are expanding their fleets in order to meet the growing demand for domestic as well as international flights as more people join the middle class and have more financial freedom.
Cirium’s 2024 Fleet Forecast projects that the country’s passenger fleet will increase from 720 planes in 2023 to over 3,800 planes by 2043.
With an order book anticipated to reach 2,000 aircraft by March 2025, Indian airlines are predicted to account for 18 per cent of the Asia-Pacific region’s fleet by that time, up from eight per cent currently.
With inputs from agencies
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