Pvt airlines owe Rs 274 crore to AAI

The government on Tuesday said the major private domestic airlines owed over Rs 274 crore (Rs 2.74 billion) to the Airports Authority of India for availing its services.

"The outstanding dues payable by major private domestic airlines as on October 31 this year are Rs 16,792.19 lakh by Kingfisher Airlines, Rs 4986.62 lakh by Jet Airways, Rs 1,542.42 lakh by Spicejet, Rs 908.67 lakh by Go Air, 853.96 lakh by Paramount Airways, Rs 872.78 lakh by Indigo and Rs 1466.60 lakh by Jetlite," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said in reply to a Rajya Sabha query.

The Minister said most of the airlines paid their dues on time but in case of defaulting airlines, AAI charges interest on defaults, encashing bank guarantees and reducing credit facilities. Replying to another query, Patel said the Delhi Police was taking strong action against touts on the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

"In 2009, 122 touts have been apprehended by the Delhi police," he added. Answering another question, he said the Government has extended its guarantee for the aircraft acquisition programme of the erstwhile Air India and Indian Airline.

In reply to another question, he said 626 expatriate pilots were working with various scheduled domestic airlines in the country.