The user charges and the airline charges at airports will be revised for five years, says Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA).
“The authority is still in the process of reviewing the tariff estimates submitted by Delhi and Mumbai airport operators. This will take around five months,” Financial Express quoted Sudhir Raheja, a member of AERA.
For reviewing the charges, two airports – Delhi Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and Mumbai International Airport – have submitted their tariff cards. AERA has appointed SBI Caps, which in turn, appointed a consultant to analyze the tariff determination.
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The airport expansion works may affect tariff. Delhi IGI Airport is currently undergoing some expansion works, the value of which is estimated around INR 9000 crores. The works that are expected to complete in next 42 months is renovating Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, as well as constructing new runway and taxiways. New approach roads are to be built, and the roads to the airport will be widened. The expansion project will increase the capacity of the airport to 85 million passengers per year.
Due to the expansion work at Delhi IGI, the airport’s tariffs may go up. On the other hand, the Mumbai airport shows no scope for capital expenditure and hence, the fare may go down.
Recently, Aviation Security Fee (ASF) was brought into effect. ASF replaced the Passenger Service Fee (PSE). It is charged at INR 150 per passenger. It will be in effect from July 1.
Delhi IGI recently started using taxibots for towing aircraft to runways. Taxibots are semi-robotic, pilot-controlled aircraft taxiing vehicles that can reduce air pollution by cutting emissions from aircraft engines as well as fuel consumption by a whopping 85%.
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