Aviation security regulator Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has asked all seven Indian airlines to deliver baggage to the passengers at airports within 30 minutes of landing. The rule will be implemented from February 26 and airlines- Air India, Indigo, Akasa, SpiceJet, Vistara, AIX Connect, and Air India Express – have been told to follow the directive. This comes as BCAS monitored the time of arrival of baggage at six major airports- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru- in January. The directions were given by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.
“Since the beginning of the review exercise, the performance of all airlines has been monitored on a weekly basis and has improved, but is not as per the mandates. The mandates require the first baggage to arrive at the baggage belt within 10 minutes of shutting off the aircraft engine and the last bag within 30 minutes of the same,” the Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement.
At present, monitoring continues at six major airports, it said.
“However, BCAS has directed the airlines to ensure that the mandated levels are achieved in all airports where they fly,” the ministry informed.
These requirements are part of the operation, management, and delivery agreement (OMDA). The Airports Authority of India signed the same with major airports such as Delhi and Mumbai at the time of privatization around 20 years ago.
The article originally appeared on Hindustan Times.