Admitting the plea of the Business Aircrafts Operators Association (BAOA), the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal (AERAAT) issued notice to the AERA asking to file its reply.
On January 15, the AERA had approved 50-time hike in penal parking charges proposed by Mumbai airport operator MIAL retrospectively from July 1, 2012.
The tribunal also directed the MIAL to furnish an undertaking within a week stating that it will deposit the amount collected through increased parking charges in a separate account till the outcome of the BAOA's plea.
Moreover, if the BAOA succeeds in its appeal against the hike then the MIAL would return the money along with 9 per cent interest.
In its petition before the tribunal, the BAOA contended that the regulator approved the 50-time increase in parking charges without conducting any study and citing any reasons.
It further contended that the AERA could not have allowed such an increase, which was completely contrary to the pricing principles for parking charges as set out in operation, management and development agreement (OMDA) and state support agreement (SSA).
Welcoming the development, Rohit Kapur, President of BAOA said," it has become a matter of survival for the industry. If such unreasonable charges are allowed half of the existing members and non-scheduled operators would have to pack their bags and look for alternative business opportunities elsewhere". (More)