Government-owned carrier Air India will reportedly soon start charging passengers for food, as part of its efforts to cut costs.

An official from the civil aviation ministry has revealed that the ministry had already accepted a government committee's recommendations on cost-cutting measures, which include charging passengers for a meal.

The government constituted committee had made a total of forty-six recommendations, and estimated that implementation of the recommendations would save nearly Rs 3,240 crore annually.

One of the main recommendations included serving only tea, coffee, cold drinks, peanuts and biscuits free of cost to economy passengers. Passengers would have to pay for a meal.

Serving only beverages like tea and cold drinks along with peanuts or biscuits free, while charging passengers of the economy class for a meal is one of those recommendations.

Revealing the development, "An average domestic meal on an AI flight costs Rs. 175 and implementing this recommendation will bring down the same to Rs. 25. The total saving estimated from this front alone is Rs.
100 crore per annum."

Separately, Jet Airways and Jet Konnect have decided to start charging for additional weight in check-in bags, while IndiGo will start charging for preferred seats.