Mumbai: No free baggage allowance, charge on airport check-in, payment for every seat may soon be an air travellers' reality. The recent unbundling of charges has sparked controversy with airlines charging on services without reducing the fares, but aviation experts predict that all services, except for a constant base fare, would come with a price tag in the next two to three years. Airlines in India are likely to emulate low-cost-carriers in US and Europe which keep a basic fare and charge for all ancillary services offered.
Passengers may have to check-in early though web to avoid a counter charge. There may be a scenario where no seat is assigned till the passenger picks one and pays for it; the baggage, no matter how less it is, would be charged for. The alteration would be in the base fare, which would be very low and cover the operation cost. Low-cost-carriers like Ryan Air and Easy Jet operate on this model, which India-based LCCs are trying to emulate. "LCCs across the globe keep the fares low and charge on the services. Indian carriers will also be doing the same in the next two to five year," said Kapil Kaul, CEO, South Asia, Centre For Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).
23/05/13 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India
