Indian aviation authorities have mandated that leading airlines in the country must dispatch passengers’ luggage within 10 minutes of the plane’s engine shutdown. The civil aviation ministry issued an order specifying that baggage should reach passengers within 10 to 30 minutes after landing. Carriers, including Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo, have been instructed to comply with this directive by February 26.

The move comes in response to a persistent issue of delayed baggage delivery at airports. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has directed the airlines to implement measures ensuring timely baggage delivery following a monitoring exercise by the aviation ministry at six major airports, involving scrutiny of operations across 3,600 flights. The review, initiated in January, is still ongoing.

Improved Baggage Delivery Needed as Airlines Fall Short of Mandated Guidelines

While acknowledging overall improvement in the performance of airlines regarding baggage delivery, the aviation ministry noted that it still falls short of the mandated guidelines. The directive specifies that the first piece of luggage should reach the baggage belt “within 10 minutes of shutting off the aircraft engine, and the last bag within 30 minutes of the same.” Frequent expressions of frustration from Indian passengers highlight the need for better baggage delivery processes at airports.

Delays, sometimes nearing an hour, coupled with technical issues with baggage belts, contribute to extended wait times. In recent months, the aviation ministry has been actively taking measures to enhance the overall air travel experience. Last week, it instructed Mumbai’s international airport to reduce flights to alleviate air traffic congestion and improve landing times.