New Delhi:
Flying in and out of Delhi is to become cheaper by Rs. 1,131 for the passengers with immediate effect after orders by Centre for reduction of 89.4% in the airport charges on Friday.
The new tariff structure includes a User Development Fee (UDF) of only Rs. 10 and Rs. 45 to be levied on domestic and international passengers flying out of Delhi. Passengers will not have to pay UDF if they are flying into the national capital.
Currently the departing passengers have to pay a UDF of Rs. 245- Rs. 490 while the arriving passengers have to Rs. 207- Rs. 415 on domestic flights.
International passengers departing from Delhi have to pay Rs. 565- Rs. 1,131 and arriving passengers have to pay Rs. 462- Rs. 933.
Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERAI) passed orders in December 2015 for 2014-19 due to which airport charges are reduced. The orders could not be implemented at that time as the GMR Infrastructure-led DIAL had disputed the new tariff structure.
The reduction in the airport charges follows an order passed by the Supreme Court on July 3. The court vacated an order passed by the Delhi High Court while hearing a petition by Air India. The court had put a stay on the fresh tariff.
Airport charges are fixed for five-year duration, known as the control period.
The AERAI had allowed DIAL to hike airport charges by 346%, during the first control period (2009-14). A 775% hike was demanded by DIAL. DIAL had also challenged the airport tariff in the AERAI appellate authority.
The process of fixing charges for 2014-19 was initiated by the AERAI. It extended the 346% hike, but clarified that an adjustment would be made for the coming five-year period.
