Adani Airports-owned Mangaluru airport has sought an immediate increase of Rs 100 in user development fee (UDF) on domestic passengers, in order to undertake development activities. It has also requested permission to levy the fee on both arriving and departing passengers.
The airport in its latest tariff filing has sought to levy a UDF of Rs 250 on domestic passengers starting this October, and gradually increasing it to Rs 725 by March 31, 2026. The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA), the tariff-fixing body, is in the process of fixing tariff for Mangaluru airport for the period of April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026.
Multiple Airport Authority of India (AAI) owned and private airports have sought an increase in tariff in light of the expansion works they have undertaken.
Airlines have opposed any significant hike in user or landing and parking charges as this will hurt their recovery after Covid. “Any increase in airport charges for the remaining period will worsen the crisis for airlines. Airport operators should equally play a role in this situation by lowering their profit expectations and help provide the much-needed financial help to airlines,” said an executive of a private airline.
