The decision to levy an extra charge for baggage which requires manual handling has come about because of the growing numbers of out of gauge items being carried through the airport. Anything that does not conform to the standards laid down by the airport will be subject to the charge. According to sources in Dubai, this will include baggage that is too light, too heavy or too large; items that do not have at least one flat surface; and items that are fragile or which might slow down or damage the handling process.
It's a wide brief but in its defence, dnata says that it is having to deploy more staff to cope with the volume of odd-shaped baggage that it is handling in Dubai. Fees will begin to be collected when an airline's contract comes up for renewal.
