Pvt carriers owe Rs 362 cr to AAI

Private airlines, including Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, owe Rs 362.47 crore to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) as on October 31, the Rajya Sabha was told today.

In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said Kingfisher-Air Deccan combine owed Rs 286.62 crore to the AAI from January 2008.

The largest private carrier Jet Airways-Jetlite combine owed Rs 32.78 crore to the AAI as current dues.

Low cost carriers SpiceJet, Indigo Airline and GoAir had dues of Rs 15.76 crore, Rs 6 crore and Rs 8.81 crore, respectively to the AAI.

Paramount Airways owed Rs 12.50 crore to the authority.

Patel said Kingfisher Airlines and Paramount Airways indicated liquidity cruch and increase in cost of (jet) fuel as the reasons for delay in settlement of dues.

AAI had raised interest bills on account of delay and also given notices to the defaulting airlines, the minister said, adding that a time-bound plan for liquidation of dues of Kingfisher Airlines has also been worked out and the same was committed by the airline.

In reply to another question, the minister said that as per AAI's policy, credit facility was allowed on furnishing of security deposit to Kingfisher/Air Deccan and Jet Airways/ Jetlite to the extent of Rs 67 crore and Rs 55.66 crore, respectively uptil March 31, 2008.

In case of delay in payment beyond the credit period, the carriers are liable to pay interest on the delayed payment.