In a bid to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs triggered by the ongoing West Asia crisis, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has announced a series of relief measures for domestic airlines, aimed at maintaining stability in India’s aviation sector.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said it has reduced landing and parking charges for domestic carriers by 25% for a period of three months, a move expected to ease operational pressures on airlines.
This comes after an earlier intervention where the government capped the increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices for domestic operations at 25%, despite global fuel prices witnessing a sharp surge of over 100%.
According to the Ministry, the latest decision has been taken to ensure that rising operational costs do not significantly impact airfares or disrupt domestic connectivity. The reduction in airport charges will be implemented across major airports under the purview of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India as well as non-major airports managed by the Airports Authority of India.
The government estimates that the move will provide airlines with relief of around ₹400 crore over the three-month period.
Speaking on the development, the Minister said the government remains focused on making air travel affordable and accessible, even as global aviation faces significant disruptions. He added that the Centre is in constant coordination with airlines and airport operators to ensure that domestic operations remain stable.
The Ministry further stated that it will continue to monitor the evolving situation and may introduce additional measures if required to safeguard the sector.
The relief package underscores the government’s attempt to balance rising global cost pressures with the need to keep domestic air travel affordable, as geopolitical tensions continue to impact the aviation industry worldwide.
