No Additional Charges For Issuing Boarding Passes At Counters, Says Aviation Ministry

IndiGo, the country's largest airline, charges an additional fee for passengers seeking boarding passes at the airport check-in counter.

Groundsmen stand near the Indigo flight (Source: File photo/AFP)

New Delhi: Airline companies will no longer be able to charge passengers extra for the issuance of boarding passes at airport 'check-in' counters, said the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday. IndiGo, the country's largest airline, charges an additional fee for passengers seeking boarding passes at the airport check-in counter. 

“It has come to the notice of MoCA that airlines are charging additional amount for issuing boarding passes from the passengers. This additional amount is not in accordance with the instructions given in the aforesaid order or as per extant provisions of Aircraft Rules, 1937," the ministry said in a statement.

It has come to the notice of MoCA that airlines are charging additional amount for issuing boarding passes from the passengers. This aditional amount is not in accordance with the instructions given in the aforesaid order or as per extant provisions of Aircraft Rules, 1937. pic.twitter.com/nf3IC5uOQJ

— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) July 21, 2022

The ministry said that this is not justified under the directions issued in accordance with the provisions of the Aviation Rules, 1937.

"The Airlines are advised not to charge any additional amount for issuing boarding passes at the airport check-in counters, as the same cannot be considered within the tariff as provided under Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, it said. 

This comes after a few air travellers raised the issue via social media marking their disappointment over flight operators charging extra expense for the issuance of ticket at the registration counters. Observing something very similar, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had, in May, said that carriers charging extra for generating a boarding pass was “ridiculous” adding that the issue will be "examined" as soon as possible.