As a low cost, no frills airline, AirAsia will be a completely new experience for air travellers in India. Travellers who have been used to 'free' bonanzas like extra baggage allowance, hand bags, service on board and other amenities, will now have to forego these luxuries!

According to press reports, with the Air Operators' Permit (AOP) from Directorate General of Civil Aviation in place, Air Asia is scheduled to launch its inaugural service from Bangalore to Goa, on 12th June, with a single A 320 aircraft.

As a low cost, no frills airline, it will be a completely new experience for air travellers in India. Travellers who have been used to free baggage allowance, hand bags, service on board and other amenities, will now, have to forego these luxuries! In fact, in Air Asia's flights, they will have to pay for every single service that is offered.

With even check-in baggage dis-allowed, the only concession appears to be a 7kg hand baggage. No doubt, the well trained staff will ensure that the rules are strictly followed.

However, the DGCA appears to have already objected to the AirAsia baggage plans, which envisages pre-booked check-in baggage upto 15kgs being charged Rs199 (as against Rs300 if checked in at the counter); the rates go up to Rs498 (upto 20kgs), Rs999 (upto 25kgs), Rs1,499 (upto 30kgs) and Rs1,999 (upto 40kgs). Should the passenger check baggage in at the counter, every kilo above 15kgs will be charged Rs250. So, passengers who usually carry a lot of luggage may obtain a cheap fare ticket, but literally pay through the nose for their luggage. It appears that the DGCA has already advised AirAsia to remove these charges detailed on their web site, and have directed them to approach the regulator for approval. Details of the luggage charges may be announced in a day or two.

Also, as a general airline practice, when tickets are cancelled well in advance, taxes are also refunded after deducting a certain percentage for cancellation; last minute cancellation gets no refund at all. Existing Indian carriers refund fares subject to a maximum cancellation charge of Rs1,500. Who knows, the domestic carriers, who have been raising these objections to prevent AirAsia from taking the sky, may now come out with a more lenient policy on baggage, apart from cut-throat air fares they are offering to spite AirAsia!

A discussion was expected between Prashant Kumar, Chief of DGCA, and AirAsia representatives with regard to the baggage charges policy.as . Indian passengers are known to carry huge amounts of luggage wherever they travel. The proposed baggage policy from AirAsia might just change this quintessentially Indian habit.

Loss making domestic carriers like SpiceJet, and others like GoAir and IndiGo have also reduced their prices in to meet the price challenge from AirAsia. Apart from fighting on the price front, the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) have filed a case in the High Court at New Delhi, scheduled for hearing on 11^th July.

AirAsia began its quest for entry into the Indian market some 15 months ago. Though they may be starting operations with just one aircraft, their plan is to bring in one more every month. Besides, June is not the peak "season" month for travelling, and they expect to have a few more when the peak season starts.

The major issue facing AirAsia is the verdict of the High Court. If it goes against them, they may have to postpone their flights or make an appeal, in which case, the FIA would have won the initial advantage. However, it remains to be seen how the High Court rules.

In the meantime, both the Airline industry and the hospitality industry are hoping that the Finance Minister would make suitable provisions in the ensuing Budget to reduce taxes on the hospitality sector and jet fuel. After all, the increased cost of jet fuel is eventually passed on to the passenger.

The outcome of the dog fight between FIA and AirAsia will also affect the Tata-SIA full service airline that is now awaiting AOP. In this new airline, Tata Sons hold 51% stake and Singapore Airlines 49%. This new airline, when it takes off, is expected to bring about a major change in the airline industry in the country in terms of passenger comfort and service.

Which is why, perhaps, domestic airlines are doing what they can to prevent both AirAsia and Tata-SIA coming into the scene, as they will be hard to beat. Their entry is what the air travellers hope to see in the near future.

(AK Ramdas has worked with the Engineering Export Promotion Council of the ministry of commerce. He was also associated with various committees of the Council. His international career took him to places like Beirut, Kuwait and Dubai at a time when these were small trading outposts; and later to the US.)