1 Dec 2025
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) and airlines have challenged the order in the Supreme Court.
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) redefined tariff calculations for FY09-14, revealing that around ₹50,000 crore is owed to the Mumbai and Delhi airports.
If this goes through, for Delhi airport, the User Development Fee levied per passenger may increase from ₹129 to ₹1,261 for domestic travellers and ₹6,356 from ₹650 for international. For Mumbai, domestic travellers may have to pay ₹3,856 from ₹175 and ₹13,495 instead of ₹615 for international travellers.
AERA sets airport charges for 5-year slots depending on investments made and the revenue earned by the operator. AERA was established in 2009, three years after ownership passed from the Airports Authority of India to DIAL and MIAL.
For FY09-14, AERA fixed the charges based on the value of its aeronautical assets, such as infrastructure used for flight operations and passenger processing. DIAL and MIAL approached TDSAT, arguing that AERA must also consider the value of non-aeronautical assets.
Check out my new book, THE BLACK FLAMES, on Amazon Kindle. A gripping, high-stakes mystery.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.6 stars on Amazon
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on Goodreads