Hike in aeronautical tariff: Tribunal's final hearing in October
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal (AERAAT) today decided to start the final hearing from next month on the plea of all major Indian carriers opposing the 346 per cent hike in aeronautical tariff by AERA.
The Competition Appellate Tribunal, which has been notified to work as an appellate tribunal over the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), said it would not pass any order on the application seeking interim relief by the airlines lobby group, Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), and proceed for final hearing.
The FIA is protesting AERA's decision to allow a 346 per cent hike in aeronautical tariff for the next two years by airport operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which had sought an almost 800 per cent increase earlier. The tariff includes landing, parking and navigation charges the airlines have to pay, apart from the User Development Fee imposed on the passenger passing through the Delhi airport.
"The matter should be heard finally...in that order, there would be no interim order," said a three-member AERAAT bench, headed by its Chairman Justice V S Sirpurkar.
The tribunal also observed that the airlines were already paying the increased tariff; hence there was no need for any interim relief.
AERAT listed the matter on October five for the next hearing.
It also asked AERA and DIAL to file their reply and their rejoinder to the FIA's plea.
