Debt-laden airline Air India has hiked its excess baggage charges by 25 percent for domestic flights. The rates have been revised from Rs 400 per kg to Rs 500 per kg effective from June 11. The state-run airline had informed the increase in charges in a circular last week.

The circular said, "It has been decided to revise the excess baggage rate in the domestic sector to Rs 500 per kg per coupon on all travels commencing on or after June 11 from Rs 400 per kg."

It further said that the charges were applicable on Air India's regional arm Alliance Air. The airline's website currently says, "For Domestic sectors within India, the excess baggage rate is INR 500 plus applicable GST per kg. per coupon including Alliance Air. GST rates will be applicable on the value reflected on all Excess Baggage tickets, issued in India, except from the exempted airports."

The GST rates applicable is:

• Economy class: 5 percent
• Others: 12 percent

GST will, however, not be applicable on passengers travelling to or from airports across Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, besides the Bagdogra airport in West Bengal, as per last week's circular.

Although other airlines charge between Rs 250 to 400 per kg on excess baggage, Air India's free baggage limit is higher at 25 kgs compared to 15 kgs allowed by others.