The Aviation Ministry on Thursday issued new guidelines for airline companies. The ministry said that now the 'check-in' counter cannot charge passengers extra for issuance of boarding passes. The country's largest airlines like Indigo, SpiceJet and GoFirst currently charge an additional Rs 200 for passengers seeking boarding passes at the airport check-in counters. "It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Civil Aviation that airlines are charging additional amount from passengers for issuance of boarding passes," the ministry wrote. This additional amount is not in accordance with the instructions given in the said order or in accordance with the existing provisions of the Aircraft Rules.
The ministry had made it mandatory for passengers to do web check-in and obtain boarding passes on May 21, 2020. However, on May 9, 2022, the ministry issued an order stating that airlines should encourage passengers to do timely web check-in and bag tag printing. The ministry on Thursday said the practice of levying additional charges by airlines for issuance of boarding passes at airport check-in counters is not in line with the May 9 order.