Airlines Raise Concerns Over High Charges at Noida International Airport Ahead of Launch
Airlines flag steep charges at Noida airport ahead of June 15 launch
Business Standard
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Airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, have expressed concerns over steep airport charges at Noida International Airport, set to launch on June 15. Proposed fees are significantly higher than those at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, raising fears of unviable commercial operations and potentially higher fares for passengers.
- 01IndiGo estimates an additional ₹103 crore ($12.4 million USD) in annual charges compared to Delhi's airport.
- 02Parking fees at Noida are the highest in India, at ₹14,500 ($175 USD) for six hours.
- 03User development fees (UDF) for passengers are 406% higher for domestic flights than at Delhi's airport.
- 04Airlines warn that high costs could deter passengers from using the new airport.
- 05The International Air Transport Association (IATA) supports airlines' concerns about the proposed charges.
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As the Noida International Airport in Jewar prepares for its launch on June 15, airlines have raised alarms over the proposed airport charges, which they deem excessively high. IndiGo Airlines, the largest carrier in India, has warned that it could incur an additional ₹103 crore ($12.4 million USD) annually compared to the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi, based on 15 daily round trips. The airport's six-hour parking fee for an Airbus A321 is the highest in the country at ₹14,500 ($175 USD), significantly more than the ₹8,000 ($96 USD) charged at Navi Mumbai Airport and less than half of IGIA's ₹6,900 ($83 USD). Furthermore, landing charges for planes at Noida are 119% higher than at Delhi for domestic flights and 53% higher for international flights. The embarking user development fee (UDF) is also notably steep, at ₹653 ($7.85 USD) for domestic flights, which is 406% higher than IGIA, and ₹1,200 ($14.50 USD) for international flights, 85% more than at Delhi. These elevated costs may force airlines to increase fares, discouraging passengers from shifting to the new airport. A spokesperson for Noida International Airport defended the charges, claiming they align with other similar airports and are designed for long-term sustainability. However, both IndiGo and Air India have echoed concerns about the impact of these fees on their operations, with IATA also highlighting the high charges as problematic for a new airport entering a competitive market.
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If airlines raise fares due to high operating costs, passengers flying to Noida could face significantly higher ticket prices compared to those flying to Delhi.
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