<p>Airfares may become “more affordable” for sportspersons and musicians of repute with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation recommending that they be offered special packages or allowance on charges for carrying their equipment.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sportspersons and musicians have had to pay more since 2013 after the DGCA allowed unbundling of seven services, including charges for carrying sports equipment and musical instruments, from the basic fare. The DGCA has now revised the Air Transport Circular of 2013 asking airlines to offer the incentive on fares to sportspersons and musicians representing India for carrying their equipment.<br /><br />“Scheduled airlines may offer special package/allowance for carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments for international/national level players and artists respectively representing India,” the revised circular issued recently said.<br /><br />The regulator had unbundled seven services from basic fare against the backdrop of feedback that many a time the flier might not require certain services provided by airlines.<br /><br />“Considering the fact that unbundling of services and charge thereto has the potential to make basic fare more affordable and provides consumer an option of paying for the services which he or she wishes to avail, it has been decided by the government to allow services to be unbundled and charged separately in opt-in basis," the circular said.<br /><br />Revised circular<br /><br />The unbundled services included preferential seating, food and beverages, using airline lounges, check-in baggage charges, sports equipment charges, musical instrument carriage and free for special declaration of valuable baggage.<br /><br />The revised circular also said that while pre-assigning emergency rows, all regulatory provisions “strictly adhere to, ie, ensure appropriateness of persons occupying those seats”.<br /><br />Though the airlines are free to fix the charges for unbundled services, DGCA reserves the right to intervene and stop them from charging for any specific unbundled service if principles such as “opt-in, transparency, non-discrimination” are violated.</p>
<p>Airfares may become “more affordable” for sportspersons and musicians of repute with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation recommending that they be offered special packages or allowance on charges for carrying their equipment.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sportspersons and musicians have had to pay more since 2013 after the DGCA allowed unbundling of seven services, including charges for carrying sports equipment and musical instruments, from the basic fare. The DGCA has now revised the Air Transport Circular of 2013 asking airlines to offer the incentive on fares to sportspersons and musicians representing India for carrying their equipment.<br /><br />“Scheduled airlines may offer special package/allowance for carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments for international/national level players and artists respectively representing India,” the revised circular issued recently said.<br /><br />The regulator had unbundled seven services from basic fare against the backdrop of feedback that many a time the flier might not require certain services provided by airlines.<br /><br />“Considering the fact that unbundling of services and charge thereto has the potential to make basic fare more affordable and provides consumer an option of paying for the services which he or she wishes to avail, it has been decided by the government to allow services to be unbundled and charged separately in opt-in basis," the circular said.<br /><br />Revised circular<br /><br />The unbundled services included preferential seating, food and beverages, using airline lounges, check-in baggage charges, sports equipment charges, musical instrument carriage and free for special declaration of valuable baggage.<br /><br />The revised circular also said that while pre-assigning emergency rows, all regulatory provisions “strictly adhere to, ie, ensure appropriateness of persons occupying those seats”.<br /><br />Though the airlines are free to fix the charges for unbundled services, DGCA reserves the right to intervene and stop them from charging for any specific unbundled service if principles such as “opt-in, transparency, non-discrimination” are violated.</p>
