Air India: New baggage rules for UAE passengers from July 1

Dubai, June 29: Come July and Air India, Air India Express passengers travelling from UAE will face stricter rules on carry-on baggage.

Currently Air India Express flies to 13 international destinations- Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Muscat, Salalah, Singapore, KualaLumpur, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, Columbo and Dhaka from 12 Indian cities - Kozhikode, Kochi, Thiruvananthpuram, Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Amritsar, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Mangalore and Tiruchirapally.

Air India authorities have decided to restrict free allowance for hand luggage to 8kg and 7kg respectively on these airlines inclusive of duty free items, Khaleej Times reported.

"The carry-on bags will be weighed at the gates before passengers board the flights, a senior airline official was quoted as saying.

"A penalty of Dh60 per kilo will be imposed in case it exceeds," said Prem Sagar, manager of Air India and Air India Express Dubai and Sharjah.

So far, UAE passengers flying on Air India and its budget airline used to enjoy the luxury of carrying duty free items above the free allowance of carry-on baggage for free.

The baggage weighing at the gates policy will begin with flights from Sharjah on July 1. It will take some time to start this in Dubai.

"The decision has been taken in view of security of aircraft," said the official.

Ladies' hand bag, overcoat or wrap, rug or blanket, camera or binoculars, books, infant feeding items and carrying basket, collapsible wheelchair or a pair of crutches or braces for passengers dependent on them, walking stick, foldable umbrella, laptop and medicines required during flight exempted from carry-on baggage weighing.

OneIndia News