At Mumbai airport, flyers to pay a fee to reach their private jets

Mumbai: The top brass of Indian firms can no longer drive right into Mumbai’s international airport to board their private jets.
Now they have to pay Rs10,000 for each turnaround trip in a Mercedes that will pick them at gate number eight at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, which is about 150m from where the private jets are parked. The charges shrink to Rs8,000 if they choose to be ferried in a Toyota Camry.
If a chief executive wants an assistant to accompany him into the airport, he would have to shell out an additional Rs1,250 per hour. For two hours at the VIP lounge, they would need to spend Rs5,000, plus Rs2,500 for each additional hour.
From 8 March, the GVK group-controlled Mumbai International Airport Ltd (Mial), which runs Mumbai airport, has been levying these charges. Çelebi NAS Airport Services India Pvt. Ltd, the Indian arm of Istanbul-based Çelebi Holding Inc., is in charge of groundhandling services.
Mint has reviewed the rate card sent out by Çelebi to companies that own and run private jets at the airport. A Çelebi executive confirmed the development, but declined to be named.
Mial says the move will help beef up security. “In the general aviation area, we are addressing some non-compliances and introducing processes to ensure standardization and enhance airside safety in line with Directorate General of Civil Aviation guidelines,” a spokesperson said.
The GVK group also defends the action. “Until now, the groundhandling activities for these private jet operators were carried out by unauthorized companies and there were irregularities found on the operations,” a GVK official said on condition of anonymity. “There were no checks and balances when it comes to access to aircraft. We need to bring in some standard practices for safety.”
22/03/10 P.R. Sanjai/Live Mint

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Categories: Airports Mar 2010