Economy class passengers bound for the US, Canada and Mexico can now check in two pieces of baggage for free on Air France-KLM and Delta Airlines.

The maximum permissible weight per baggage has been set at 23 kg, as per a press statement. Earlier, the free allowance for economy class passengers was capped at 23 kg for one piece of baggage.

“We are constantly looking at ways to fulfil the needs of our customers and provide the best possible service to them. Revising our baggage allowance to North America is one such step in that direction,” said Yeshwant Pawar, General Manager, Air France-KLM.

Frequent passengers of Air France-KLM and Delta can carry an additional check-in bag above their permissible baggage allowance limit.

There is no change to the per-person baggage allowance for passengers flying in the Premium Economy and Business Class, the company said.

Analysts said that the intense competition from full services West Asian carriers, Emirates, Qatar, Etihad and others, has prompted Western airlines to raise baggage allowance, a stark departure from the decade long strategy of compelling passengers to travel light or pay steep fees. Most of the West Asian carriers allow passengers from India to carry two pieces of check-in baggage.