Airlines protest Adani's Ahmedabad airport plan to hike fees for charter aircraft during World Cup

Ahmedabad Airport: Airlines are protesting the Adani group owned Ahmedabad airport's proposal to increase the user charges for charter flights during the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup.

User Charge

As per Economic Times, the airport has increased ground handling charges by more than 10 times, sparking a backlash from major airlines, who have now sought government intervention. The airlines have said that such a sudden increase is illegal and will make charter operations unviable.

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According to the tariff list issued by the Ahmedabad airport in September, the airport has levied a minimum of Rs 265,000 as general aviation charges for any charter flight carrying more than 15 passengers. Above that, it will charge Rs 17,667 per passenger. The airport has also levied extra charges on special flights operated during the Indian Premier League at Rs 6,000 per passenger. These are over and above the landing and parking charges.

Airport Economic Regulatory Authorities' Notice

The Airport Economic Regulatory Authorities (AERA) issued a notice saying that levying charges and tariffs that have not been approved by the authority is illegal.

“A few airport operators are levying charges without taking approval, resorting to unethical practices. All airport operators are directed to refrain from levying charges which have not been approved by the authority,” AERA said in a notice seen by Economic Times.

As per the Economic Times report, AERA has also summoned the top management of the Ahmedabad airport.

AERA has been fixing the airport tariffs for a period of 5 years.

Charter Flight

Any flight that has not been filed with the airport operator for a particular season will be charged as a charter.

Airlines like Indigo, SpiceJet and Vistara had bid for the BCCI tender to carry cricketers based on previous charges. The sudden increase in charges will make the flights impossible to fly as the BCCI has failed to pay the extra charges.

Airport's stance

An senior official of Adani group has told Economic Times that the extra fees that have been levied are not aeronautical charges and hence a permission from AERA was not required adding that they were reviewing the charges.

“Only aeronautical charges like landing, parking charges need permission from the authority. These charges are only for extra services for charter flights and hence should be treated as non-aeronautical,” he told the publication.

He further added that the airport had to increase the manpower due to increased movement of charter flights, which has increased the expenses.

“Charter operations don’t follow a schedule. The airlines are operating charters beyond operating hours for which we had to deploy extra resources. Plus, passengers in charter flights need many other extra services. These have a cost. There has been no increase in charges for scheduled passenger flights,” the official told Economic Times.

However, as per the report an government official has refused saying that the charges have been levied for ground handling services, which are critical for aircraft operations.