Srinagar airport gets ‘major’ tag as annual traffic crosses 35 lakh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 7
In a significant move, the Union Government has issued a notification declaring Srinagar International Airport as a “major airport” under the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) Act, 2008. The AERA is now empowered to determine and fix tariff for aeronautical services.
In a gazette notification, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (i) of Section 2 of the AERA Act, 2008, the Union Government hereby declares the Srinagar airport as a major airport.”
After the notification, the AERA, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, would have the powers to determine tariff for aeronautical services at Srinagar airport, said an official.
Under the AERA, the Centre can designate an airport as a major airport if it has annual passenger traffic of at least 35 lakh. For non-major airports, these tariffs are determined by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), a body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
As per Section 13 of the Act, the AERA has been mandated to determine the tariff for the aeronautical services rendered at major airports, which include user development and passenger service fee levied under Rule 88 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937.
On October 23, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had inaugurated international flight operations at Srinagar airport by flagging off the first direct international flight between Srinagar and Sharjah.
AERA to fix tariff
- The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) fixes tariff at major airports
- International flight operations were flagged off at the airport on Oct 23
- At non-major airports, tariff is determined by the Airports Authority of India
