The government today said it has instructed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to take all possible steps, including legal action, against defaulting airlines to recover total dues of Rs 1,101.97 crore.
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 to AAI, while private carrier Air Deccan-Kingfisher had dues of Rs 286.62, Jet Airways/Jetlite Rs 32.78 crore, Spicejet Rs 15.76 crore, Paramount Airways Rs 12.5 crore, Interglobe Aviation Rs 6 crore and Go Air Rs 8.81 crore.
The minister said several airlines, including international carriers, had outstandings to privatised
airports -- Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) Rs 84.50 crore as on December 15, 2008; Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) Rs 86.54 crore; Hyderabad International Airport Ltd
(HIAL) Rs 48.75 crore and Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) Rs 41 crore.
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 during April to September 2008 compared to the corresponding period in 2007," he added.