Decide on lower charges at IGI airport in two months: Supreme Court

July 07, 2017: In a major relief to flyers, the Supreme Court has directed for resolving the issue of implementing lower tariffs within two months. For over three years passengers have been forced to pay charges more than the tariffs fixed by a government-appointed agency at IGI Airport.

"We are of the opinion that since fresh tariff order has already come into force, and ultimately the amount is also recovered from passengers at Delhi airport, this direction calls for interference. Let Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal (AERAAT) decide the appeal filed by the respondent (DIAL) within a period two months from today," a Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy ordered in a petition filed by Air India against DIAL.

Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) had in December 2015 slashed Delhi airport charges by a steep 96 percent for the period April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2019 (called second control period). This should have resulted in a sharp drop in airline charges, thereby significantly lowering fares. But DIAL continues to charge the higher tariff that AERA had approved for April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2014 (first control period) by taking legal recourse for not implementing the lower tariff order.

According to sources, there will be significant reduction in fares for flights originating from Delhi if DIAL now implements the lower charges.