The government said on Tuesday it has instructed the Airports Authority of India to take all possible steps, including legal action, against defaulting airlines to recover total dues of Rs 1,101.97 crore (Rs 11.01 billion).
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, civil aviation minister Praful Patel said some of the airlines have not been settling their dues in time.
"Government has given instructions to AAI to take all possible steps, including legal action if warranted, against the defaulting airlines," Patel said.
He said Air India owed Rs 739.50 crore (Rs 7.39 billion) to AAI, while private carrier Air Deccan-Kingfisher had dues of Rs 286.62, Jet Airways [Get Quote]/Jetlite Rs 32.78 crore (Rs 327.8 million), Spicejet Rs 15.76 crore (Rs 157.6 million), Paramount Airways Rs 12.5 crore (Rs 125 million), Interglobe Aviation Rs 6 crore (Rs 60 million) and Go Air Rs 8.81 crore (Rs 88.1 million).
The minister said several airlines, including international carriers, had outstandings to privatised airports -- Delhi International Airport Ltd Rs 84.50 crore (Rs 845 million) as on December 15, 2008; Mumbai International Airport Ltd Rs 86.54 crore (Rs 865.4 million); Hyderabad International Airport Ltd Rs 48.75 crore (Rs 487.5 million) and Bangalore International Airport Ltd Rs 41 crore (Rs 410 million).
Patel said due to a cut in flights and passenger flow, there has been a reduction in the revenue from airport charges for AAI and other private airport operators.
"AAI has a decrease in revenue to the tune of Rs 228 crore (Rs 2.28 billion) during April to September 2008 compared to the corresponding period in 2007," he added.
Mumbai International Airport's aeronautical revenue has been on lower side for April-November period by about Rs 79.83 crore (Rs 798.3 million) compared to the same period last year, HIAL saw a decline in total revenue by 15 per cent, he added.
"DIAL has indicated reduction in revenue of Rs 50 crore (Rs 500 million) for the year 2008-09," Patel said, adding BIAL also had had an impact to a certain extent.
The minister, however, said the declining trend was expected to be transitory in nature.
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