Owners of pvt jets oppose parking fines at airport

The Business Aircraft Operator’s Association (BAOA) has strongly opposed the “outrageously high penalties” levied by the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) on private aircraft parking and called for an immediate rollback.

The Business Aircraft Operator’s Association (BAOA) has strongly opposed the “outrageously high penalties” levied by the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) on private aircraft parking and called for an immediate rollback.

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MIAL has from July 1 started imposing penalty charges, which range between R1,000-15,000 per hour, on private aircraft registered outside Mumbai, which are parked at the domestic airport beyond an agreed period.

Airports Authority of India, the state-owned airport operator, charges a nominal fee ranging from R20-R70 per metric tonne per hour for parking.

“To restrict aircraft movement by levying such penalties is completely unacceptable, illegal, and beyond the purview of private airport developers,” said Rohit Kapur, president, BAOA.

“An aircraft registered in India can be used anywhere in the country and its movement can’t be restricted to limited airports, as it defeats the very purpose of private aircraft. If the infrastructure is absent, it does not give any agency the right to penalize operators,” he said.

BAOA said such fines must be approved by the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority.