Fly in and out of Delhi airport? Here’s why your ticket fare could soon cost less

Airport operator AERA had consequently filed a petition with the AERA Appellate Tribunal (AERAAT) on the issue. The Supreme Court was roped in after Air India filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) on January 24 this year, in light of a “delay” in the verdict of AERA’s petition, due to “frequent disbandment and reconstitution”.

Air India’s SPL says, “DIAL has been unjustly enriched by Rs 7,257.15 crore approximately on account of revenue generated from tariff charges for the period starting from April 1, 2014, till June 30, 2016… DIAL is currently recovering Rs 300 crore (approximately) per month, and if it is permitted to continue doing so… then by the end of the second control period (March 2019) there would be a total collection of Rs 17,157.15 crore (approximately) as against target revenue of Rs 7,709.61 crore, straightaway leading to excess collection of Rs 9,447.54 crore over and above target revenue.”

AI also contested that there is no means to calculate how the excess revenue earned by DIAL can be refunded to the “ultimate player”, according to Times of India. According to AERA, passengers flying through Delhi have paid a whopping Rs 9,450 crore in extra charges to DIAL in the last three years, since the second control period which began in 2014.

A Supreme Court bench on February 23, took cognizance of the matter and ruled, “Having regard to the facts and circumstances of this case, we request the AERA Tribunal to take up the matter at an early date so as to dispose of the same within a period of two months from today. As prayed, list the matter in the last week of April, 2017.”