In the realm of aviation oversight, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has issued a mandate directing airlines to ensure the prompt delivery of passengers’ baggage within a 30-minute timeframe following the landing of a flight at any given airport.

This directive, delivered on February 16, was specifically directed at seven scheduled airlines, namely Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Vistara, AIX Connect, and Air India Express. The BCAS emphasized the imperative need for these carriers to implement the necessary measures to guarantee the timely retrieval of baggage, setting a deadline of February 26 for compliance.

The regulatory body has been closely monitoring the efficiency of baggage arrival at six major airports during January 2024. This scrutiny, undertaken at the behest of Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, aims to address the prevalent issue of passengers experiencing delays in obtaining their baggage post-flight.

In a statement released on a Sunday, the BCAS highlighted the ongoing review process, noting that while there have been weekly improvements in the airlines’ performance, they still fall short of the mandated standards.

The stipulated requirements, as per the Service Quality Requirements of Operation, Management, and Delivery Agreement (OMDA), demand that the initial baggage reaches the conveyor belt within 10 minutes of the aircraft engine shutdown. Furthermore, the last piece of luggage should be delivered within the 30-minute timeframe from the same reference point.

Ensuring compliance with these stringent timelines is crucial to meeting the operational standards set forth by BCAS, underscoring the significance of adhering to the specified Service Quality Requirements.