Govt mulls extra charge on peak hours airport slots; flights may get costlier

Flights during peak hours may get costlier as government is considering a proposal to impose charges on flights during the peak period. According to a report in The Hindu, a concept note is being prepared to encourage use of non-peak hours and de-congest the peak hour operations. If the proposal goes through the flights during peak hours may become costlier, while non-peak hours flights may see more flight operations.

“Government is considering a proposal to impose a surcharge on airlines for flights during peak hours to enhance airport capacity and avoid flight delays,” The Hindu quoted Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra as saying.

“We are persuading airlines to consider the window of non-peak hours. Government is considering whether a charge can be introduced for flight operations during peak hours,” Mohapatra told The Hindu in an interview.

“A concept note is being prepared and global models are being studied. The note is currently at a proposal stage and a final decision is yet to be taken,” he said.

Currently, a landing fees is levied on airlines based on the weight of aircraft and airlines are charged only a flat amount regardless of the time of day.

However, airlines may not like the idea as the new charge will become an additional charge on airlines holding peak-hour slots and the flights in non-peak hours would only be welcomed if airlines get good amount of travel bookings.

Indian airport generally witness four peak period during a day between 6 am and 8.30 am; 10.30 am and 12 pm; 4 pm and 6 pm; and 7 pm and 9.30 pm.

Airports across the country are witnessing huge congestion due to heavy rising traffic. India has witnessed a six-fold increase in passenger numbers over the past decade but the airports passenger handling capacities have not kept the same pace.

While Mumbai and Delhi’s airports are the two of the most congested airports in the country and nearing its saturation point, ten airports — Dehradun, Jaipur, Guwahati, Mangalore, Srinagar and Pune — are already operating beyond their capacity. Delhi and Mumbai airports have stopped give slots during peak hours as it don’t have the parking space during the peak periods.

Globally, many countries like the US and UK also follow the peak-hour charge system. For example, Heathrow introduced the system way back in 1972 to check air traffic congestion, while airports in US won the long legal regarding the same in 2010.