Now, flyers from AAI airports to bump into user development fee

New Delhi: Air travellers flying from at least nine non-metro airports, which include Udaipur and Jaipur, will soon have to shell out additional money as user development fee (UDF). The civil aviation ministry is considering a proposal to allow the public sector airport operator, Airport Authority of India (AAI), to levy a fee at various airports.
The move is on the lines of granting permission to GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) to collect UDF to recover its investment in building the airport.
“We would appoint an independent consultant to assess the financial health of nine non-metro airports where modernisation work of terminal building and other areas is complete. In recent times, AAI has conveyed to us their liquidity problems. The amount of UDF the developer will be allowed to charge will depend on the liquidity situation and the amount invested,” a government official, who did not wish to be identified, said.
AAI has proposed to charge Rs 300-350 from passengers flying from these airports. Among various airports where the airport operator has proposed to levy the development fee are Trivandrum, Trichy, Ahmedabad, Dibrugarh and Udaipur.
The government recently approved the GVK Group-led Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) to levy Rs 100 as airport development fee (ADF) from each outbound domestic passenger and Rs 600 from each international passenger, in spite of opposition from global airlines body International Air Transport Association (IATA).
10/03/09 Economic Times

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Categories: Airports Mar 2009