Sky-high airport fees choking domestic aviation: IATA chief

Mumbai: Increasingly expensive airports and poor infrastructure are acting as deterrents to the growth of the civil aviation sector in the country, global airlines body IATA has said.
"India's airports are becoming increasingly expensive. We have seen a 346% increase in charges at Delhi, 164% increase in aeronautical charges in Mumbai, 219% in Kolkata, and a 269% hike in Chennai. These are huge increases," IATA director general and chief executive Tony Tyler told PTI at his Geneva headquarters recently.
"But we have had some victories. They have rolled back some charges in Delhi," the International Air Transport Association (IATA) chief said.
Stating that the poor infrastructure and high taxes work as a deterrent to the development of the aviation sector, he said aviation is a huge economic enabler of growth.

"Look at Mumbai, which is probably the most important commercial centre of the country. Frankly, its airport is inadequate. We have been talking about the Navi Mumbai airport for years, but where is the progress on that?," he asked.
Read News In Full 29/12/13 PTI/Business Standard