This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation's (MoCA) response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 836, addressed on July 24, 2025, regarding the charging of convenience fees by airline operators. The question references a ruling by the District Consumer Redressal Commission, Karur, Tamil Nadu (Consumer Complaint No. 22 of 2021), which stated that airlines cannot charge a convenience fee for direct bookings on their websites, citing MoCA Order No. AV.13030342013DT.
The Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, clarified that airlines levy convenience fees to operate online booking systems, covering bank transaction costs that vary with payment mode. These fees are displayed on airline websites and are considered part of the overall tariff. The Minister cited MoCA Order No. AV.13030342013DT, dated September 24, 2013, which permits such fees as long as they are included within the tariff and no extra amount is charged beyond the stated tariff. The response indicates that the practice of charging convenience fees for online bookings is permissible under existing rules, provided it adheres to the specified conditions outlined in the 2013 MoCA order.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation of national policies and programmes for the development and regulation of the Civil Aviation sector.
Shri Matheswaran V S: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the unstarred question No. 836 regarding charging of convenience fees.
District Consumer Redressal Commission, Karur, Tamil Nadu: A consumer protection commission located in Karur, Tamil Nadu, that ruled on the convenience fee charged by airlines.
B. Bharanitharan: The complainant in Consumer Complaint No. 22 of 2021 against Interglobe Aviation Limited.
Interglobe Aviation Limited: The parent company of IndiGo, an Indian low-cost airline, and the defendant in the consumer complaint regarding convenience fees.
AV.13030342013DT: Ministry of Civil Aviation Order number regarding convenience fees charged by airline operators.
Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu: The Minister of Civil Aviation who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 836
th
(To be answered on the 24 July 2025)
CHARGING OF CONVENIENCE FEES
836. SHRI MATHESWARAN V S
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government is aware that the District Consumer Redressal
Commission, Karur, Tamil Nadu, in Consumer Complaint No. 22 of 2021 (B.
Bharanitharan vs M/s Interglobe Aviation Limited) dated 26.10.2022, held
that airline operators cannot charge a convenience fee when tickets are
booked directly on the airline's own website, as per Ministry of Civil Aviation
Order No. AV.13030/34/2013-DT and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether it is a fact that airline operators are still charging convenience
fees on direct bookings made through their own websites, in violation of the
said order and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu)
(a) to (b): Airlines charge a convenience fee for operating online ticket
booking systems to enable passengers to book tickets electronically, which
includes bank transaction costs that vary according to the payment mode.
This fee is displayed on airline websites and forms part of the tariff. As per
MoCA Order No. AV.13030/34/2013-DT dated 24.09.2013, such fees are
permitted under existing Rules as long as they are included within the tariff
and no extra amount is charged beyond this.
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