New Delhi: In a move that would soon raise air travel costs from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) on Wednesday decided to raise landing, parking and other charges by a whopping 346 per cent for two years.
In its latest order, AERA also fixed higher rates of user development fees (UDF) for both incoming and outgoing domestic and international passengers this year, with the rates going up further from April next year. The new charged would be applicable May 15 onwards.
According to the order, the UDF for international travel would be Rs 845.50 for outgoing passengers travelling between 2,000-5,000 km and Rs 699.17 for incoming ones. For those travelling beyond 5,000 kms, the UDF would be Rs 1,068 for outgoing and Rs 881.10 for incoming.
Similarly for domestic travel, a passenger flying up to 500 km would pay Rs 231.40 and an incoming one Rs 195.80. Outgoing travellers flying more than 500 kms would pay Rs 462.80 and an incoming passenger Rs 391.60.
While outgoing passengers have so far been paying UDF of Rs 200 for domestic and Rs 1,300 for international travel, industry sources said the increased airport levies would also be passed on by the airlines to the fliers, raising prices of tickets further.
The order covers the charges to be levied on airlines and other airport users for uplift of fuel and using the Common User Terminals.
The hike in airport charges for 2012-13 is, however, less than the 774 per cent hike sought by GMR-led joint venture Delhi International Airport Limited. The rates for 2013-14 will be applicable from April 1, 2013, the AERA order said.
It said that the 345.92 per cent hike would be "on a one time basis during the control period" between 2012-14. The AERA has now included incoming air travellers also in the ambit of UDF. The rates applicable for 2012-13 would go up considerably in 2013-14, the order shows.
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