Major airlines across India have been directed to reduce their baggage delivery time by the BCAS

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has ordered major airlines in India to shorten the time it takes for bags to be delivered (BCAS). BCAS wrote to seven major airlines—Air India, IndiGo, Akasa, SpiceJet, Vistara, Air India Express Connect, and Air India Express—on February 16, 2024, requesting that they take the appropriate steps to guarantee luggage delivery on schedule.

The directive, as stated in the Service Quality Requirements of Operation, Management, and Delivery Agreement (OMDA), is a response to concerns about baggage delivery punctuality and complaints received via social media and other channels alleging that passengers have been harmed by delayed baggage delivery after arriving at the airport. 

In January 2024, the Aviation Ministry launched a stringent monitoring programme under the direction of Jyotiraditya Scindia, BCAS. This test monitors the amount of time it takes for luggage to reach assigned belts at six major airports throughout the nation.

Although there has been a discernible uptick in performance since the review's beginning, none of the airlines have regularly fulfilled the requirements. Timely processing and delivery of baggage is crucial, as stipulated by the OMDA. The first luggage must reach the conveyor belt within 10 minutes of the engine being turned down. 

Now, six significant airports are the focus of the surveillance activities. BCAS has, however, instructed the airlines to expand the scope of their compliance efforts to include all airports within their operational jurisdiction. The goal of this expanded scope is to guarantee consistency and adherence to required service requirements throughout the aviation industry.

The action taken by BCAS highlights how crucial it is to improve the traveller experience and operational effectiveness in the aviation sector. Airlines may improve customer happiness and maintain the highest levels of service excellence by emphasising prompt luggage delivery.