Indian Government Slashes Airport, Navigation Charges

Govt Slashes Airport, Navigation Charges 
NDTV.com, India

Thursday, February 12, 2004 (New Delhi):


Government today slashed the landing and user charges
at airports, especially for aircraft with less than 80
seats and helicopters to make air travel affordable
and increase connectivity to smaller areas.

The landing charges have been reduced by 15 per cent
of the current rates for domestic flights subject to
the condition that airport charges are paid within the
credit period of 15 days.

Besides, airside user charges at five airports
declared as international airports with effect from
May 2002, excluding Bangalore and Goa would continue
at the same rates as those of domestic airports till
March 31, 2005.

After this, it would be reviewed in relation to the
facilities set up at these airports, an official
release said.

This rule would however, not apply to the airports at
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and
Thiruvananthapuram.

Significantly, aircraft with less than 80 seating
capacity and helicopters have been exempted from
paying any landing charges. 

Also, route navigation facility charges of 20 per cent
of the applicable rates of weight-cum-distance-formula
would be levied on aircraft with maximum all-up-weight
of upto 10,000 kg. 

For those over 10,000 kg and upto 20,000 kg, 40 per
cent charge would be levied. 

The new measures, announced by Civil Aviation Minister
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, were expected to bring down the
operating costs of the scheduled domestic carriers.

It is expected that the benefits out of the reduced
charges would be passed on to the passengers, the
release said. (PTI)  

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