Asia Bizz: On April 10, 2012 the authorities of Delhi International Airport said that it might have to shut down in a couple of months till the government approves the 774% increase in the airport charges. Recently, the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) had approved the 334% hike in the airport charges at Delhi from the month of April.
But the new charges are yet to be applied. The Air India (AI) dues have mounted to Rs. 50 crore while Kingfisher owes the Delhi InternationaI Airport Limited (DIAL) Rs. 75 crores.
Sidarth Kapur the chief financial officer of DIAL said that they are incurring a monthly loss of about Rs. 40 crore. Kapur added that AI has not only defaulted on the payment of the aeronautical payment but has also not transferred the airport development fees that it has been collecting from passengers on behalf of the airport.
The financial officer said that the government is aware of the situation and that they are hoping for some relief. Kapur also added that the payment has to be made now and not sometime in future as by then they would have already wound up their operations. In the current financial year the DIAL is likely to suffer a loss of around Rs.900 – 1000 crore.
