Delhi airport will be “world\'s most expensive”

NEW DELHI, April 26, 2012

If you are planning to board a flight to or from Delhi\'s Indira Gandhi International Airport any time after May 15, be prepared to shell out more as airport charges have been raised by a whopping 346 per cent by the Airports Regulatory Economic Authority.



The hike incorporates landing and parking charges, uplifting of fuel and using the common user terminals. Additionally, a user development fee (UDF) will be levied for the first time on incoming passengers, which is expected to go up further after 2013.



The hike is, however, less than half the 774 per cent increase sought by the GMR-led joint venture Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) which runs the airport. "The revision of charges is much below our expectations. It is less than half of the requested increase and therefore inadequate," it said on Wednesday.



"The approximate increase in ticket pricing works out to Rs.290 on an average for a domestic and Rs.580 for an international flight," it added.



However, this amount will be more if the airlines decide to pass on the hike along with the user development fee to the passengers.



"The entire cost increase will be passed on to the passenger," said Jet Airways\' senior vice-president (finance) Mahalingam Shivkumar.



The fee hike would be effective for two years. So far, outgoing passengers have been paying an Airport Development Fee (ADF) of Rs.200 for domestic and Rs.1,300 for international travel, which is a temporary arrangement to help DIAL face its immediate cash crunch for construction and development of the airport.



The UDF will now be in addition to this ADF, with the UDF for international travel set at Rs.845.50 for outgoing passengers travelling between 2,000-5,000 km and Rs.699.17 for incoming passengers. Travel beyond 5,000 km would work out to Rs.1,068 for outgoing passengers and Rs.881.10 for incoming passengers.



On the other hand, a domestic passenger flying out of Delhi for up to 500 km will pay Rs.231.40 and Rs.195.80 while landing in Delhi. Travellers flying more than 500 km will pay Rs.462.80 for flying out and Rs.391.60 for flying in.



The UDF for international travel is set to go up further to Rs.895.26 for incoming passengers and Rs.741.16 for outgoing passengers for 2,000-5,000 km. For those flying over 5,000 km, it would be Rs.1,130.85 for outgoing passengers and Rs.932.95 for incoming passengers.



The Geneva-based International Air Transport Association termed the hike extremely disappointing. The increase would in effect make Delhi "the world\'s most expensive airport," it said.


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