Airports Want To Restrict, Or Charge, Smaller Aircraft... Sound Familiar?

India's Civil Aviation Ministry has stepped up to the plate in support of general aviation, and just in the nick of time. The Ministry is set to oppose a proposal by Delhi International Airport and Mumbai International Airport to restrict entry of general aviation aircraft and smaller regional jets.

Smaller aircraft are currently exempt from paying landing fees -- which the airports view as a huge loss of revenue. General aviation and regional traffic comprises about 10 percent of DEL's traffic volume and less than 10 percent at BOM.

"Private operators can not stop entry of smaller aircraft at metro airports merely on the grounds of congestion and unavailability of slots. Their unilateral decisions are not accepted," an official in the civil aviation ministry said, according the India Economic Times.

There are experts who contend the real reason for such a proposal by the major airports is, of course, money. Existing rules state any aircraft with a takeoff weight of less than about 88,000 pounds are not required to pay landing fees.

It is speculated airport operators could raise the issue with the slot selection committee which is headed up by a joint-secretary level ministry official, an unidentified official said. Ministry officials contend the current infrastructure hasn't yet been saturated and there is enough room for smaller aircraft at both airports. 

Sources have told the Times the airport operators insist it's very difficult to accommodate smaller aircraft like ATR and Canadian Regional Jets (CRJ) in the winter peak season.

Kapil Kaul, head of the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation, an independent aviation market intelligence, analysis and data services company, said, "There is an urgent need to bring in a regulator to deal with all such issues, including tariffs."

FMI: www.mumbaiairport.com, www.delhiairport.com, www.civilaviation.nic.in, www.centreforaviation.com/aviation