Kingfisher Airlines owes Rs 186.26 crore to Airports Authority of India while East West Airlines owes it Rs 14.31 crore till March 31 this year, Minister of State for Civil Aviation K.C. Venugopal told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
The Minister said AAI was making efforts to recover the dues from private airlines which have defaulted in payment of airport rentals and taxes among others. The actual amount which these and some other airlines owe is likely to be a lot more as penal interest on the outstanding amount has not been calculated, the Minister said.
In addition, NEPC airlines owes Rs 2.74 crore to the State-owned airport operator, while Paramount Airways owes Rs 1.75 crore, the Minister informed the House. The airlines mentioned by the Minister have all ceased operations.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Government has acquired 370 acres for development of Belgaum airport and handed it to the AAI for development of a runway extension, construction of new passenger and cargo terminal and other infrastructure facilities, the Minister said in reply to another question.