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UAE. Air India and Air India Express are to tighten restrictions on carry-on baggage for passengers on flights from the UAE from July 1.
Allowances for hand baggage, inclusive of duty free purchases, will be limited to 8 kg on Air India flights and 7 kg on Air India Express, the Khaleej Times reported.
Air India and Air India Express have not varied the actual allowances, but are moving to enforce the restriction – in a move that could discourage duty free shopping by passengers on the important Indian routes.
Dubai Airports Executive Vice President Commercial Group Eugene Barry told The Moodie Report: “This is a seasonal operating issue for many Indian and African airlines at this busy travel time, and the airline in question has introduced the policy before across all UAE airports. We are in close contact with Dubai Duty Free on the matter.”
Carry-on baggage is to be weighed at boarding gates, with passengers charged AED60 (US$16.35) per kilo above the allowed weight.
The airlines will implement the policy from 1 July for flights from Sharjah, and several days after that for flights from Dubai.
An airline spokesperson cited concerns about overloading due to passengers bringing on duty free items weighing many kilograms above the allowance.
Other airlines are already imposing similar charges, the spokesperson said.
Air India and Air India Express have informed travel agents of the change, and will be displaying notices at check-in counters to forewarn passengers.
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How the news was reported in the Khaleej Times |
