Delhi, Mumbai airports on IATA's “wall of shame” for high charges

Industry trade body for airlines, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has severely criticised the high aeronautical charges and taxes prevalent in India. In its recently held annual general meeting at Kuala Lumpur, IATA put the Delhi and Mumbai airports on its 'Wall of Shame' for hiking airport charges by as much as 207 per cent.

''Malaysia reduced airport charges by 50 per cent in March... in response to the economic environment. Singapore, China and Thailand have taken similarly positive measures,'' IATA director general and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said.

Ina letter to Indian civil aviation minister, Praful Patel, he has sought an immediate one-off reduction in airport charges across India. The letter also contains advice for the minister on six priority areas which, it says, are critical for Indian aviation.

The six areas that IATA has earmarked as critical focus areas for Indian aviation are safety, global leadership, airport development, aeronautical charges and taxes, technology and airspace infrastructure capacity.

In his letter to Patel, Bisignani said, ''The outlook (on airlines) has significantly deteriorated with airline revenues forecast to decline by 15 per cent or $80 billion in 2009. Net losses in 2009 are expected to be considerably higher than previous forecasts at $4.7 billion. Indian carriers too are undergoing extreme financial and operational stress.''