New Delhi: In the sharpest ever attack on the government handling of Air India, India's private airport operators have accused the state of 'patronising' the national carrier and preventing them from acting against the airline for non-payment of dues. The Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO), that represents private airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Cochin, had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Kingfisher was put on cash-and-carry when it ran up dues but the same is not being allowed for AI.
"In the case of AI, whose outstanding dues are of much higher magnitude (than Kingfisher), our five member airports are being restrained from enforcing the cash-and-carry on account of government patronage. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) advocates non-discrimination in the levy/enforcement of airport charges. India, as a signatory, is bound by ICAO regulations but the stipulation is being patently violated," APAO secretary-general Satyan Nayar wrote to the PM recently.
The five private airports claim outstanding of about Rs 1,180 crore from AI. State-run Airports Authority of India also claims dues of over Rs 1,000 crore from AI. Delhi, which is AI's hub, alone claims dues of about Rs 625 crore from AI. The aviation ministry, which directly runs AI, has not allowed either AAI or private airports from denying any further credit to AI.
29/11/12 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
