The much-debated conglomerate is back with another backlash where Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, owned by the Adani Group, proposed an increase in user charges for charter flights amidst the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup.

Adani’s move to increase ground handling charges by more than tenfold for Ahmedabad airport triggered major airline companies, which later sought government intervention.

AERA issues a notice

Responding to the sudden charge hike by Adani, the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) issued a notice stating, “Recently, it has been brought to the attention of AERA that a few air operators of major airports have been levying some charges for aeronautical services without seeking the requisite approval, resorting to unethical practices of charging unapproved tariffs from end users.”

The AERA informed airport operators that they are not permitted to levy and collect unapproved charges or tariff rates, and passengers should not pay for them.

The AERA decides tariffs for the next five years for each airline. It has instructed all airport operators to refrain from imposing charges that the authority has not approved.

Ahmedabad, along with Bengaluru airport, saw a hike in the last year.

On Apr 1, 2023, another Adani-owned airport, Lucknow International Airport (LIAL), reportedly proposed a steep hike in aeronautical charges like parking fees and landing fees.

An airline official said, “The tariff levied on Lucknow airport is not valid, and the airline may face a major setback, which has already faced many backlashes.”

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