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Delhi, Mumbai airports on IATA 'wall of shame'

Last updated on: June 09, 2009 20:22 IST

Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of International Air Transport Association, on Monday put Delhi and Mumbai Airport on the 'IATA wall of shame' for their steep hikes in fees which, he said, added to the jeopardy of the aviation industry.

Bisignani was speaking at the 65th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Air India's CMD, Arvind Jhadav and Jet Airways CEO Naresh Goyal were also present at the meeting.

About 11 per cent of airline companies' revenues go to monopoly suppliers. Airlines pay over $54 billion to airports and air navigation service providers.

According to IATA figures, the bill that airlines have paid to monopoly suppliers grew by $1.5 billion last year. In the first six months of 2009, as the crisis in the industry worsened, it grew by another $1.5 billion.

Bisignani said Delhi and Mumbai airports had a special place on the 'IATA wall of shame.' He said Delhi and Mumbai airports were one of the worst contributors to the crisis, for their 207 per cent hike in charges.

"There is no room for this nonsense in our future. When demand drops, suppliers cannot divide the same costs among fewer customers. The shape of everything must change," he declared.

BS Reporter in Mumbai
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