Carriage of domestic cargo on international flights - CBEC extents facility to Private Airlines
BY Circular No. dated 22.3.1999, Board had extended the facility of carriage of domestic cargo between domestic airports on international flights to Air India.
Now private airlines also want this facility.
Board has noticed that initially when the facility was first extended, Air India was the only airline that was undertaking carriage of both international and domestic cargo. However, now a number of other private airlines have also started providing such a service. Therefore, it was felt that the facility of carriage of domestic cargo in international flights between two domestic airports may be allowed to other private airlines as well, subject to fulfilment of certain safeguards so as to prevent any misuse.
So the Board has decided to allow domestic private airlines as well as M/s. Air India and Indian Airlines, [are they not merged?] to carry domestic cargo between domestic airports on their international flights subject to the fulfilment of the following conditions:
(i) Separate space shall be assigned by the airlines or custodian in the cargo complex / area of the airport for receipt and storage of domestic cargo till these are delivered or dispatched.
(ii) Domestic cargo will be received by the airlines in the designated area during the normal working hours of Customs at the respective airport.
(iii) The containers/ Unit Load Devices (ULDs) used for carrying the domestic or international cargo shall be clearly marked or coloured or strapped, for its identification, distinction at the time of loading/ unloading, transportation.
(iv) Domestic tags shall be prepared for identification of the domestic cargo with separate colour coding.
(v) Loading or unloading of domestic cargo in any international flight/ aircraft shall be carried under the supervision of Customs officers.
(vi) Domestic and international cargo will be loaded separately, and shall be carried in hold area onboard the aircraft distinctly identifying these cargoes.
(vii) On arrival of the domestic cargo, at the destination airport, the airlines shall make necessary arrangements to deliver the domestic cargo.
(viii) In respect of transhipment of international cargo by airlines, they shall be required to execute necessary bond and bank guarantee as prescribed vide Circular No. dated 7.12.2001. Further, those persons who fulfill the threshold limit of annual transshipment volume specified shall be exempt from the requirement of furnishing bank guarantee as specified Circular No. dated 24.11.2005. Accordingly, no separate bond or bank guarantee shall be required in respect of domestic cargo. In addition, transshipment procedure as specified in Board's Circular No. dated 22.01.2007 may be strictly adhered to.
Jurisdictional Commissioner of Customs are requested to implement the above said procedure, while permitting the facility of carriage of domestic cargo between domestic airports on international flights by private airlines as well as M/s Air India and Indian Airlines. Difficulties, if any, experienced while implementing the above matter may be taken up for appropriate action with the Board.
CBEC Circular No. 4/2010-Cus., Dated: February 15, 2010.