Airport charges to top meet agenda

New Delhi: The domestic airlines, under the umbrella of Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), will meet civil aviation minister Praful Patel on Tuesday with an agenda full of demands for fiscal concessions, apart from scrapping the proposal for differential airport charges mooted by the government.
Airlines are expected to press for an amendment to the Finance Bill so that withholding tax on aircraft lease rentals continues to be exempted.
Airline companies are also hoping the government will not implement its recent proposal to double the peak-hour airport charges. According to government sources, the civil aviation ministry may tone down its plan to decongest busy airports.
The government is also considering non-financial measures to reduce congestion. Currently, airports in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore can handle 35 aircraft movement (landing and takeoff) in an hour. The government plans to increase this to 50 an hour. Another measure could be to slow down clearance for fresh flight slots during busy hours.
13/03/07 Sunny Verma/Economic Times

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Mar 2007, General Aviation Mar 2007