The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has mandated that airlines must ensure passengers receive their check-in baggage within 30 minutes of arrival by February 26, aiming to alleviate congestion in airport terminals.
The Civil Aviation Ministry stated on February 16 that airlines must adhere to the Service Quality Requirements of Operation, Management, and Delivery Agreement, with the last baggage delivered within the specified time frame.
Since January, the directive comes after the bureau assessed baggage delivery times at major airports, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai.
As per regulations, the initial baggage should reach the conveyor belt within 10 minutes of the aircraft engine being shut off, and the final bag must be on the belt within 30 minutes.
Air India, Indigo, Akasa, SpiceJet, Vistara, Air India Express Connect, and Air India Express, have been issued a final warning to implement measures ensuring timely baggage delivery.
The ministry warned of potential action if airlines continue to cause delays in the baggage delivery process.
Airport congestion has been a significant concern, particularly after a surge in passenger footfall in December 2022 at major airports like New Delhi and Mumbai.
Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has been working with airport operators and airlines to implement measures to ease congestion, including increasing departure gates, adopting new technologies like Digi Yatra for faster security clearances, and reallocating space by removing lounges and commercial areas.
The move to ensure timely baggage delivery not only aims to expedite passenger clearance but also enhances airport security. Performance reviews of all airlines are being monitored weekly as part of an ongoing exercise to ensure compliance with mandates.
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