<Lean hour tariff cut on govt radar SUNNY VERMA Economic Times FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2007 NEW DELHI: Air travel during off-peak hours is likely to become cheaper as the government plans to reduce airport charges during these hours. The plan to double peak period charges has been shelved, preventing a hike in fares. In addition, airlines have been told to scrap congestion surcharge, which is levied across all regions. Cheaper airport charges during non-peak hours are expected to take effect by the end of this month when airlines shift to their summer schedules. Putting an end to the ongoing debate over hike in airport tariffs, the civil aviation ministry has decided to keep busy period charges unchanged while pruning non-peak charges, the sources said. The civil aviation ministry has also stopped issuing any fresh slots for new flights during busy hours in order to curtail congestion at airports. Allocation of flight slots, which began on Thursday, is expected to be over by Friday. Airlines, however, shall continue to enjoy their existing rights to fly during busy hours. Earlier, the civil aviation ministry had proposed doubling of peak-hour charges. However, due to resistance from airlines, the ministry has decided not to change peak-hour tariffs. According to sources, the charges during non-peak hours are being lowered to induce airlines to increase operations from midnight till 5 am. The civil aviation ministry has also frozen allotment of flight slots during busy hours of 8 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. The tariff imposed by government on airlines consists of landing, route & navigation and parking charges. Airlines are now requesting increasing the number of hours a pilot can fly in a day in order to make flights during night hours possible, they said. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) may have to amend safety regulations for this purpose.> http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Transportation/Air lines__Aviation/Lean_hour_tariff_cut_on_govt_radar/articleshow/1770254.cms As per my recent update, the government was planning to double peak-hour tariffs for 7 hours a day and halve them for 5 hours in the night in a bid to relieve congestion at three airports. Now only slot allocation during peak hours (which have been reduced to four hours a day) will be frozen. Fares will not be hiked but will only be cut during night non-peak hours.
This probably means that the Navy can continue with its military flight training at Dabolim from 08:30-13:00 on weekdays without worrying about overlap with peak hours from 08:00-10:00. But it has to be prepared to see some night flights esp from 00:00-05:00. Before that DGCA has to amend some pilot duty restrictions. Elsewhere I read that the Civil Aviation Minister had got the military to agree to discontinuing military flights during peak hours at Bombay and Delhi. This seemed surprising because Bombay is supposed to be non-military. Anyway, faint signs of hope. But why is Bangalore, the third in the congested category and a defence establishment airport, exempted? Interestingly, the Minister is not prepared to stop small planes from mofussil towns to the metros from using peak hours though they contribute to congestion. Vote bank politics?
