Merchant, small cargo airports free to fix charges

New Delhi: Small private sector airports — known in trade parlance as merchant airports — would have the freedom to fix all aeronautical charges, including passenger fee. Unlike other airports, merchant airports would not come under the purview of the Airports Regulatory Authority of India (Area).
Airports handling less than 1.5 million passengers annually would lie outside the purview of the regulatory authority. Small cargo airports would also enjoy this exemption.
“All aeronautical charges at cargo airports, including private ones, would be fixed by the operators and Area would not intervene in setting any tariff at these airports. A private airport having licence to handle commercial aircraft would also not be regulated by the proposed agency till it starts handling 1.5 million passengers annually,” a senior official in the ministry of civil aviation said.
As dedicated cargo airports are yet to take off in the country, this category does not find mention in the Area Bill. But once the need arises, changes would be notified.
19/09/07 Nirbhay Kumar/Economic Times

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Categories: Airports Sep 2007, Cargo Sep 2007, Merchant Airports Sep 2007, New Sep 2007