Gautam Adani-led Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL) has proposed the government to consider Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports as one entity while levying tariffs for passengers and airlines to bring parity in charges, the Economic Times reported. The parity in charges will help the newly built airport to drive traffic. This comes at a time when the power-to-port conglomerate has reportedly faced opposition from airlines on shifting operations to the new airport.
“If both the airports’ tariffs are calculated as one unit, the charges at both airports will be average of the two, bringing parity,” ET reported, citing a source.
Although both the airports are owned by the Adani Group, the push for parity in tariff calculation is mainly because passenger user fees, landing and parking charges will be significantly higher at the Navi Mumbai airport. The port-to-power conglomerate mentioned that higher charges could deter airlines from shifting their operations to the newly built airport, which is set to kickstart operations in July this year.
The Adani Group’s airport arm cited the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) Act’s 2021 amendment that permitted clubbing of airports and designating them as a single business entity. The rationale behind the amendment was to privatise smaller, loss-making airports and group them with a larger one in the region to attract investors and boost development of smaller airports.
“This will prove to be a catalyst in the development of small airports and help enhance air connectivity in far-flung areas,” then Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had said.
Gautam Adani in a social media post on X had informed that the Navi Mumbai airport is set to launch in June this year.
“Visited the Navi Mumbai International Airport site today--- a world-class airport taking shape. Set for inauguration this June, it will redefine connectivity & growth,” said the billionaire on X on March 16.
