Increasingly expensive airports and poor infrastructure are acting as deterrents to the growth of the civil aviation sector in the country, global airlines body IATA has said.

“India’s airports are becoming increasingly expensive.

We have seen a 346 per cent increase in charges at Delhi, 164 per cent increase in aeronautical charges in Mumbai, 219 per cent in Kolkata, and a 269 per cent hike in Chennai. These are huge increases,” IATA director general and chief executive Tony Tyler told PTI at his Geneva headquarters recently.

“But we have had some victories. They have rolled back some charges in Delhi,” the International Air Transport Association (IATA) chief said.

Stating that the poor infrastructure and high taxes work as a deterrent to the development of the aviation sector, he said aviation is a huge economic enabler of growth.

“Look at Mumbai, which is probably the most important commercial centre of the country. Frankly, its airport is inadequate. We have been talking about the Navi Mumbai airport for years, but where is the progress on that?” he asked.

High taxes on the jet fuel, which goes up as high as 40 per cent in some states, coupled with higher airport charges in the form of user—development and airport development fees jack up air fares. These have had a negative impact on the passenger demand in the country.

Pointing out that sectoral regulator Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has been doing a good job, he said, “I think, within the scope of its authority, the AERA has been as tough as it could be. But the system of regulation leaves something to be desired.”

He also flayed the government for taking away a larger revenue pie from private airport operators and blamed it as one of the reasons for higher airport charges.

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