Airports operator GMR group said that the mounting unpaid dues of Air India and Kingfisher are affecting operations at both Delhi and Hyderabad airports. The two cash-strapped airlines together owe Rs 525 crore to GMR.

AI dues higher

Of this, the bulk – Rs 450 crore – is owed by Air India. Kingfisher Airlines has unpaid dues of Rs 75 crore.

GMR group's subsidiary Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) operates Delhi Airport while another subsidiary GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) runs Hyderabad Airport.

Mr Sidharth Kapur, Chief Financial Officer (Airports) of GMR group, said, “The Air India dues, which are high, are severely impacting airport operations. We are not getting regular payments from Air India. We want to resolve the issue in consultation with the Government.”

“We expect that Air India and the Government should immediately make a payment of some lump sum amount so that we don't get sick,” he said, adding DIAL is likely to suffer a loss of around Rs 900-1,000 crore in this financial year.

He said Kingfisher was operating flights from Delhi and Hyderabad airports on a ‘cash-and-carry' payment system.

>Shishir.s@thehindu.co.in

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