New Delhi: Indian airlines have been quick to unbundle select services and announce separate charges for them, less than a fortnight after the government allowed them to do so, but have not pruned base fares simultaneously as they were supposed to.
Over the last few days, leading airlines have listed charges for some services since the government announced on April 29 that passengers could be made to pay separately for preferential seating, meals and drinks except water, usage of airlines' lounges, carrying check-in baggage, sports equipment carriage, musical instrument carriage and luggage specially declared valuable.
The civil aviation ministry had said that the move would allow airlines to keep a lower base fare and give passengers the flexibility to pay for services they need, thereby reducing the overall cost of travel.
16/05/13 Mihir Mishra/Indian Express
