Air tickets to smaller cities to get cheaper from July 1

Hyderabad: Certain charges on airfare from non-major airports to be rolled back from July 1 to March 2018. DGCA B.S. Bhullar stated air navigational charges at all airports and airport charges at non-major airports of Aviation Authority of India for domestic flights stood restored to rates prior to December 16, 2016. The new tariff would be applicable from July 1.

The DGCA official said that the airports serving less than 12 lakh passengers annually were considered non-major airports. “The DGCA increased airport charges by 10 per cent on December 16, 2016, and again by 5 percent on April 1. This was applicable on non-major airports such as Vijayawada and Rajahmundry among others, which handle an annual traffic of less than 15 lakh. The rates are determined by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority. Now, the rollback of charges will mean lower airfares for domestic passengers from non-major airports,” he said.

According to a report by DC, the DGCA has rolled back passenger service fee, landing, parking and housing fee for aeroplanes in airports along with user development charges.

“This will lead to lower ticket prices from 1st of July. But, so far, we have not got any communication from airlines. It may take some time to know the accurate reduction in airfare for domestic passengers”, said a travel agent M.V. Sunder Rao.

M. Raghavendra Kumar, a techie from Madhapur, said that after an increase in charges in December, The airfare to Rajahmundry and other places was increased. “The difference was between Rs 300 and Rs 500. But, after the introduction of Udan Scheme, we are expecting cheaper airfares from non-major airports,” he said.