JEDDAH, 26 December 2007 — An Air-India flight left the Haj Terminal yesterday morning carrying only 100 of its over scheduled 200 passengers after they raised an outcry over an excess baggage charge of SR55 a kilo that the airline was demanding from the pilgrims.

The flight bound for Lucknow in northern India, for which over 200 passengers had checked in, finally left around 9 a.m. “In fact, the 100-odd passengers who did not travel chose not to board the flight as they needed time to send their excess baggage by cargo,” K.M. Kurian, Air-India’s Western Province manager, told Arab News.

“Our rules for excess baggage for passengers stand at SR55 per kilo for those purchasing return tickets in India and SR13 per kilo for those holding tickets purchased in the Kingdom,” Kurian said.

“So there was nothing wrong on the part of Air-India to demand SR55 kg per kilo over and above the carrier’s free baggage allowance of 45 kg in addition to a can of Zamzam water per pilgrim,” he added.

Asked why the pilgrims were not informed in advance about the increase in charges, Kurian said, “Air-India had communicated to the Haj Committee of India and it was the responsibility of the HCI to inform the pilgrims.”

Until last year, Air-India’s excess baggage charges stood at SR13 per kilo for Haj tickets purchased in India.

The airline has considerably increased the charges, something that pilgrims say they were not informed about. Kurian, however, added that the steep increase in excess baggage charges was meant to discourage pilgrims from carrying extra weight.

“After all, how much extra weight can our aircraft carry?” he said.

Pilgrims are facing another problem in Madinah. For the first time ever, Air-India has not opened a counter there to deal with queries relating to lost tickets and other problems. Till last year, Air-India used to have an extension counter in Madinah.

“Our experience shows that it is not worthwhile to station one or two Air-India staff in Madinah as there were few inquiries last year,” Kurian said.

Pilgrims stranded at the Haj Terminal had already vacated their rooms in the holy cities and had no other choice but to wait at the Haj Terminal.

“We are in touch with Air-India officials; the carrier has to make alternative arrangements for the pilgrims’ transport and accommodation,” said Dr. Sohel Ajaz Khan, consul Haj, at the Consulate General of India.